County-centered eye health service model for rural children in China
Evaluation of a County-Based Eye Health Service Model for Preventing and Controlling Avoidable Visual Impairment in Rural Chinese Children
This project tests whether a county-centered, integrated eye health service can improve vision screening, spectacle correction, and referral outcomes for children aged 3–18 in several rural Chinese counties.
Quick facts
| Study type | Observational |
|---|---|
| Enrollment | 20000 (estimated) |
| Ages | 3 Years to 18 Years |
| Sex | All |
| Sponsor | Zhongshan Ophthalmic Center, Sun Yat-sen University Academic / other |
| Locations | 1 site (Lincang, Yunnan) |
| Trial ID | NCT07547748 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
What this trial studies
This prospective, multicenter registry will enroll children aged 3–18 who are residents or school enrollees in five participating counties and will track annual coverage and implementation intensity of a county-level integrated eye health service. The model coordinates care across county, township, village, and school tiers and uses school-based screening as a core intervention to detect refractive error, amblyopia, and strabismus. Primary outcomes include rates of refractive error correction (spectacle coverage) and referral rates after screening, and the study will analyze annual trends and disparities in access to eye care services under real-world conditions. Long-term systematic observation aims to clarify sustained effects on pediatric eye disease management, visual function, and equity of service delivery.
Who should consider this trial
Good fit: Children and adolescents aged 3–18 who live in or attend schools in the participating counties and whose legal guardians provide informed consent (with assent for children 8 and older) are ideal candidates.
Not a fit: Children with severe systemic conditions that prevent cooperation with ophthalmic examinations, those whose guardians refuse participation, or children living outside the participating jurisdictions are unlikely to benefit.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the model could increase timely detection and correction of refractive errors, improve referral and treatment rates, and reduce inequities in eye care for rural children.
How similar studies have performed: Previous school-based and county-level vision programs in China have increased spectacle coverage and referrals, though long-term multicenter registry evidence on sustained system-level effects remains limited.
Eligibility criteria
Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria: * Aged 3 to 18 years; Enrolled in schools within the study areas, including kindergartens, primary schools, junior high schools, and senior high schools, in Yangxi County, Jiexi County, Huidong County, and Yingde City of Guangdong Province, as well as Fengqing County of Yunnan Province, or are children and adolescents who are permanent residents within these jurisdictions. * Written informed consent has been provided by their legal guardians. * For children aged 8 years and older, assent from the child is also required. Exclusion Criteria: * Presence of severe systemic diseases (such as severe congenital heart disease or intellectual developmental disorders) that preclude cooperation with ophthalmic examinations. * Refusal by the legal guardian to participate, or inability of the legal guardian to cooperate with scheduled follow-up visits.
Where this trial is running
Lincang, Yunnan
- Fengqing County People's Hospital — Lincang, Yunnan, China (Recruiting)
Study contacts
- Study coordinator: Wenyong Huang, Professor
- Email: huangwenyong@gzzoc.com
- Phone: +86 18922103835
How to participate
- Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
- Visit the official trial page on ClinicalTrials.gov for the most current contact information and recruitment status.
- Contact the listed study coordinator or principal investigator to request pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.