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KOALA study

In this section

WHO ARE WE? 

Hello! Our names are Rebecca, Megan, Betina, Holly, and Ravi. We are a team of scientists and clinicians at the University of Oxford, and we are running the KOALA study. We are currently recruiting children to take part in our brain imaging study. Please get in touch with the study team for more information: koalastudy@ndcn.ox.ac.uk

WHAT IS THE KOALA STUDY? 

KOALA is short for Kids with Occlusion therapy for AmbLyopiA. 

Amblyopia (also known as 'lazy eye') is the most common cause of vision loss in children. It is treated using occlusion therapy (also known as 'patching') by the NHS.

We are investigating how occlusion therapy changes signals in the brain to understand how the treatment works. We hope that these findings will lead to better treatment for amblyopia in the future. 

WHO ARE WE LOOKING FOR? 

We are looking for 5-8 year old children with amblyopia and 5-8 year old children with normal vision to take part in our brain imaging research. 

WHAT DOES PARTICIPATION INVOLVE?

Pre-Screening Visit

  • Children will have a 30-minute session to assess their vision
  • Children who meet our inclusion/ exclusion criteria will be invited to take part in our study

Study Visits

  • Children will have 2 study visits 6 months apart
  • Each visit will last up to 3 hours, during which time your child will have:
    • An MRI scan- a safe and non-invasive brain scan, while watching the LEGO movie (up to 45 minutes)
    • Eye tests (up to 20 minutes)
  • We have also included some time to discuss the research activities with your child, for breaks, and to get to know your child better and help them to feel comfortable
  • Professional Play Therapists will support MRI scanning

Between the 2 Main Study Visits

  • Children with amblyopia will begin their NHS standard treatment occlusion therapy after the first study visit. This study will have no impact on their treatment. 

WHERE DO KOALA STUDY VISITS TAKE PLACE?

All visits will take place at the John Radcliffe and Warneford Hospital Sites, in Headington, Oxford. 

WILL I BE REIMBURSED?

Your time and travel expenses will be reimbursed. 

CONTACT

If you have any questions, want more information, then please get in touch with the study team: koalastudy@ndcn.ox.ac.uk

We would love to hear from you! 

 

Click to download the KOALA study information sheets below:

Child Friendly Information Sheet for Children with Amblyopia

Child Friendly Information Sheet for Children with Normal Vision

Parent/Guardian Information Sheet for Parents/Guardians of Children with Amblyopia

Parent/Guardian Information Sheet for Parents/Guardians of Children with Normal Vision 

More KOALA Information