Ongoing projects:

Cognitive Level Enhancement through Vision Exams and Refraction. A randomized controlled trial (RCT) to assess the impact of near and distance spectacles on reducing rates of cognitive decline with aging in community-dwelling older people in India (CLEVER)

Funding Support: Wellcome Trust and LVPEI

Programme Duration: June 2021 to September 2026

The CLEVER trial aims to determine whether free near and distance glasses provided to older adults living in or near Hyderabad, India, aged ≥ 60 years, with under- or uncorrected refractive error and normal baseline hearing and cognition (HMSE > 18), can reduce rates of cognitive decline, measured by a global cognitive score from the LASI-DAD cognitive testing battery over 36 months.

Objectives:

  • To assess the impact of glasses for distance and near on the cognitive decline among the community-dwelling elderly in India
  • To assess the impact and cost-effectiveness of glasses for distance and near on the quality of life, falls, depression, social interaction, and physical activity among the community-dwelling elderly in India

    • The qualitative component of the CLEVER study will provide information on the context in which the trial will occur. Specific objectives include:
  • Co-developing a Theory of Change that shows what stakeholders think is needed for a successful trial
  • Understanding prevalent views on normal or expected changes accompanying aging
  • Analyzing perceptions on the value of good vision for older adults
  • Exploring current and changing patterns of elder care, including policy changes, in India and Telangana state/Hyderabad
  • Exploring how the COVID pandemic has affected elder care
  • Verifying the incentives planned for optimal recruitment and retention of trial participants
  • Conducting a process evaluation of the trial.

    • Cataract Impact Study - Impact of Cataract Surgery on Productivity - A Multicentre Intervention Study in India, Brazil and Mexico

    Funding Support:Lions Club International Foundation and LVPEI

    Programme Duration:May 2022 to May 2025

    Cataract surgery is well known to be highly cost-effective, but in settings with limited resources, understanding the economic outcomes of cataract surgery is more challenging. Hence, the purpose of the study is to demonstrate the household financial impact of cataract surgery (phacoemulsification compared to MSICS) versus no cataract surgery at baseline after three months and twelve months.

    Primary Objective: To evaluate the economic outcomes after cataract surgery versus no cataract surgery and their independent risk factors at the household level, based on Monthly household income (obtained from formal and informal work).

    Secondary Objectives: To evaluate the economic outcomes after cataract surgery versus no cataract surgery at the Household level and their independent risk factors, based on:

  • Employment status (Both formal and informal)
  • Productivity (Number of hours worked per week in both formal and informal labour sectors)
  • Asset ownership (Data will be used to create a relative index of household assets)
  • Savings
  • Household PCE [Total household budget divided by the number of household members based on the rural and urban basket to be evaluated (below the basket, meets basket, exceeds the basket); differences in mean allocation to different expenditures at baseline and follow-up].
  • Credits and loans
  • Visual function
  • Falls
  • Depression
  • Cognition
  • Hearing impairment

    • Rapid Assessment of Visual Impairment in Nagar Kurnool District in Telangana.

    Funding Support: Intra mural grant from LVPEI (HEI)

    Programme Duration: June to August 2023

    A population-based cross-sectional study using the Rapid Assessment of Visual Impairment (RAVI) technique is being carried out in the Nagar Kurnool district of Telangana State in the catchment area of LVPEI VVC. This project aims to assess the prevalence, causes, and risk factors for visual impairment among the population aged 40 years and older in this district. In total, 3000 participants will enumerate from 60 clusters and all those who are available will be examined by the trained eye teams. As of date, 30 clusters are completed.

    Objectives:

  • This project aims to assess the prevalence, causes, and risk factors for visual impairment among the population aged 40 years older in this district.
  • To assess the prevalence of near vision impairment in the study population
  • To estimate the effective cataract surgical coverage, effective refractive error coverage, and spectacles use in the region.

    • TOES (Phase 2) - Impact of Screening and Treatment of Eye Diseases on the Dongaria Kondh PVTGs in the two Micro Project Areas of Odisha

    Funding Support: Ministry of Tribal Affairs (MoTA), SC & ST Research and Training Institute (SCSTRTI), Odisha

    Programme Duration: February to September 2023

    The current study will undertake a medical review and follow up with the target population to see if there are any left-out Dongaria Kondhs families who need screening and treatment as well as to understand whether any further support or treatment is required to the Dongaria Kondhs who have undergone surgery and eye treatment in the first year. Further, the impact of screening and treatment of eye diseases on the lives and livelihood of Dongaria Kondh will also be undertaken during the study period.

    Objectives:

  • Medical Review and follow up with the Dongaria Kondh individuals who have undergone surgery/eye treatment and provide support and any further treatment if required
  • To study the impact of screening and treatment of eye diseases on the lives and livelihood of the Dongaria Kondh
  • Incidence of visual impairment in this community
  • Effective refractive error coverage and spectacle compliance of the previous project
  • Visual outcomes of cataract surgeries
  • Barriers for uptake of glasses and cataract surgery
  • Patient satisfaction. Impact on individual lives of the patients, Documentation of good practices and case studies

    • VC-SC Barrier Study

    Funding Support: IHOPE

    Programme Duration: November 2021 - Ongoing

    Barriers to reaching secondary level eye care service centre of L V Prasad Eye Institute, Hyderabad after being referred by primary rural eye care centres -- A qualitative study at Kuchakulla Ramachandra Reddy Eye Centre (KRREC), Thoodukurthy and Navabharat Eye Centre (NBEC), Paloncha, Bhadradri Kothagudem District, Telangana.

    Objectives:

  • To analyze the barriers to the uptake of referral services in patients aged over 18 years in a secondary-level eye care rural centre in Telangana.
  • To assess the impact and cost-effectiveness of glasses for distance and near on the quality of life, falls, depression, social interaction, and physical activity among the community-dwelling elderly in India.
  • To understand the characteristic difference between those who availed of the services versus those who did not avail of services despite being referred for higher-level treatment.
  • To identify the risk factors for non-compliance with referral services and identify modifiable barriers that can be addressed to improve the compliance with referrals.