Framework Program i n Global Health: Grant Recipient

Ferhina Ali
Evaluation of ready-made and custom spectacle delivery schemes to meet the needs of uncorrected refractive error in an adult population in India
Spring 2008

Country: India

Advisor: David Friedman

Program: MD at School of Medicine

Project Abstract
Uncorrected refractive error is a leading cause of blindness and visual impairment, having a profound effect on an individual’s productivity and quality of life.  Thus, it has been prioritized in the WHO initiative ‘Vision 2020: the Right to Sight.’ The major barriers to treatment in the developing world are low accessibility to refractive services and the affordability of spectacles.  For a program to be successful in meeting the needs of uncorrected refractive error, spectacles should ideally be made available to those in need on the same day as eye care examination; they must be well tolerated, durable, cosmetically acceptable and result in improvements to visual function.  There is a paucity of data on systematic evaluations of spectacle delivery schemes.  Custom spectacles are not feasible from a cost perspective and because of a delay before availability.  Donated spectacle programs are in place but produce low returns due to the poor compatibility of donated spectacles with an individual’s needs, quality of second hand frames and cosmetic appeal.1
Thus, as part of a large multi-center project, we will evaluate refractive error correction by conducting a randomized clinical trial, assessing the uptake of spectacles prescribed from a limited inventory of ready-made-spectacles for those in need in Delhi, India.  The efficacy of this spectacle provision program will be assessed at a repeat visit in terms of visual acuity, visual function and wearer retention.   Furthermore, the economic efficacy of this delivery scheme will be evaluated, when compared to dispensing ready-made spectacles.