HEROES Study
WHO ARE WE?
Hello! Our names are Hanna, Betina, Holly, and Claudia. We are a team of scientists at the University of Oxford and École Normale Supérieure in Paris, and we are running the HEROES study. We will be recruiting adults to take part in our brain imaging study. Please get in touch with the study team for more information: vision.study@ndcn.ox.ac.uk.
WHAT IS THE HEROES STUDY?
HEROES is short for Homeostatic plasticity and Exercise to Restore Optimal vision in lazy Eye Syndrome
Amblyopia (also known as 'lazy eye') is a vision development disorder where one eye fails to achieve normal visual acuity, even with prescription eyeglasses or contact lenses. This condition typically begins during early childhood and occurs when the brain and the affected eye are not working together properly. As a result, the brain starts to favour the other eye, leading to poor vision in the weaker eye.
We are investigating whether reverse patching (the amblyopic eye) and exercise can improve vision, and if so how this 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 18-50 year old healthy adults with amblyopia to take part in our brain imaging research.
To be eligible, you:
- Have been recently been diagnosed as having a lazy eye by an orthoptist (< 3 years), or suspect you have lazy eye and are willing to attend a screening (organized by us) to confirm this.
- Have an up-to-date visual prescription (< 2 years).
- Are English speaking, and willing and able to give informed consent for participation in the study.
- Are a healthy adult, aged 18 to 50 years.
- Are not currently taking any medications (except the contraceptive pill).
- Are not pregnant or breast feeding.
- Have no orthoptic or ocular impairment other than lazy eye or visual correction.
- Have no neurological or psychiatric illness.
- Have no MR Spectroscopy specific contraindications e.g. use of antipsychotic medication, history of migraine, frequent cigarette and/or alcohol consumption
- Have no MRI contraindications e.g. presence of metallic implants, a pacemaker, recent surgery etc.
WHAT DOES PARTICIPATION INVOLVE?
Pre-Screening Visit
- Participants will have a 30-minute session to assess their vision
- Participants who meet our inclusion/ exclusion criteria will be invited to take part in our study
Study Visits
- Participants will take part for up to 8 days (see Figure 1 for overview)
- During these 8 days of visual rehabilitation you will complete:
- 3 days of reverse patching (at home) and/or
- 3 days of reverse patching + exercise (in the lab)
- Before and after each stage of visual rehabilitation (Days 1, 5 and 8) you will be asked to complete:
- an MRI scan (lasting up to 60 minutes)
- vision tests
- questionnaires
- Each visit will last up between 3 and 8 hours, depending on the day
If you are not able to take part in the full 8 days, you may be invited to take part in reverse patching + exercise alone (days 5-8).
WHERE DO HEROES STUDY VISITS TAKE PLACE?
All visits will take place at the Wellcome Centre of Integrative Neuroimaging (WIN) at the John Radcliffe, 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: vision.study@ndcn.ox.ac.uk
We would love to hear from you!