Texture Changing Coatings for Low Vision and Blindness

Overseen By Charles Dhong, PhD

Age: Any Age

Sex: Any

Trial Phase: Academic

Sponsor: University of Delaware

Disqualifiers: Limb conditions

No Placebo Group All trial participants will receive the active study treatment (no placebo)

Compensation: Varies

Number of Visits: 11

20 Participants Needed

Trial Summary

Do I need to stop my current medications for this trial?

The trial information does not specify whether you need to stop taking your current medications.

How does the treatment 'Texture Changing Coatings for Low Vision and Blindness' differ from other treatments for low vision and blindness?

This treatment is unique because it involves texture-changing coatings that may help visually impaired individuals by altering the surface texture to improve tactile feedback, unlike traditional treatments that focus on visual aids or prosthetic devices. This approach could provide a novel way to enhance sensory input for those with low vision or blindness. ^{1 2 3 4 5}

What is the purpose of this trial?

At-home testing is an important part of mitigating the spread of COVID-19, but these tests are not accessible to people with low vision or blindness. Instead of adapting to a technology originally built for sighted people, investigators propose a no-power version that reports test results through a texture change, which people can feel by touch. This platform could be used not only for COVID, but also for other diagnostics, and will promote the independence and privacy for people with low vision or blindness by removing the need for human assistance or an internet connection.

Eligibility Criteria

This trial is for individuals with low vision or blindness. Participants will interact with a mock COVID-19 rapid antigen test designed to report results through texture change, which can be detected by touch.

Inclusion Criteria

I have been blind or visually impaired for over 10 years.

Participants must use tactile aids regularly

Participants should have a basic understanding of mathematical plots, equivalent to at least high school geometry.

Exclusion Criteria

I do not have any amputations or conditions that affect my hand use.

Timeline

Screening

Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial

2-4 weeks

Training

Participants are trained with a 'positive' test and 'negative' test prior to device testing

2 weeks

1 visit (in-person)

Testing

Participants administer synthetic saliva and determine if there is COVID antigen by touch

10 weeks

10 visits (in-person)

Follow-up

Participants provide ongoing feedback on usability and preferences of the tactile aid

1 year

Treatment Details

Interventions

• Validation of Texture Changing Coatings

Trial Overview The study tests a new type of at-home COVID-19 rapid test that doesn't require sight. It uses texture changes to convey results, aiming to make testing accessible and private for people with visual impairments.

Participant Groups

Group I: Interaction with Coated Surfaces Experimental Treatment 3 Interventions

Participants in this arm will interact with the device and surface coated with the polymer-antibody coating. Subjects will be trained with a "positive" test and "negative" test prior to device testing. Subjects will then administer the synthetic saliva themselves and asked to determine if there was COVID antigen in the saliva by touching the device to compare the test patch to the positive and negative control patches. Subjects will also rate device usability.

Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?

University of Delaware

Lead Sponsor

Trials

167

Recruited

25,700+

References

1. England pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Visual prosthetics 2006: assessment and expectations. [2022]

2. England pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Influence of glistenings on the optical quality of acrylic foldable intraocular lens. [2022]

3. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

LCD-based digital eyeglass for modulating spatial-angular information. [2018]

4. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

The effect of texturing the intraocular lens edge on postoperative glare symptoms: a randomized, prospective, double-masked study. [2019]

5. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Contrast and glare sensitivity after implantation of AcrySof and Human Optics 1CU intraocular lenses. [2019]