Providing free eyeglasses to improve education for students in Sierra Leone
Seeing to Learn in Sierra Leone: Impact of Spectacle Correction on Children's Academic Performance and Mental Health Wellbeing
This study is testing whether giving free eyeglasses to students aged 12-15 in Sierra Leone can help them do better in school.
Quick facts
| Phase | Not applicable |
|---|---|
| Study type | Interventional |
| Enrollment | 2400 (estimated) |
| Ages | 12 Years to 15 Years |
| Sex | All |
| Sponsor | University of Minnesota Academic / other |
| Locations | 1 site (Freetown) |
| Trial ID | NCT06065631 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
What this trial studies
The Sierra Leone Sees to Learn (SL2) trial aims to evaluate the educational impact of supplying free eyeglasses to students aged 12-15 years who have uncorrected refractive errors. The study will involve approximately 2400 children from 160 randomly-selected schools in Freetown and Bo City, with assessments conducted at the beginning and end of the school year. Participants will be randomized to receive either immediate eyeglasses or a prescription for future use, allowing for a comparison of educational outcomes between the two groups. Data will be collected through questionnaires and educational assessments to measure the impact of vision correction on learning.
Who should consider this trial
Good fit: Ideal candidates for this study are students aged 12-15 years in Sierra Leone with uncorrected refractive errors.
Not a fit: Patients with other ocular problems that prevent achieving a visual acuity of better than 6/12 in both eyes may not benefit from this study.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this initiative could significantly enhance educational outcomes for students with refractive errors by improving their vision.
How similar studies have performed: Other studies have shown positive outcomes in educational performance following vision correction, suggesting that this approach is promising.
Eligibility criteria
Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria: 1. Presenting (with or without glasses) distance visual acuity of 6/12 or worse in the better-seeing eye; 2. Refractive error of at least 0.75 diopters (D) of myopia, 2.00 D of hyperopia or 1.00 D of astigmatism; 3. Visual acuity is correctable to 6/7.5 or better with eyeglasses. Exclusion Criteria: 1. Other ocular problems preventing visual acuity \> 6/12 in both eyes.
Where this trial is running
Freetown
- Innovations for Poverty Action (IPA) — Freetown, Sierra Leone (Recruiting)
Study contacts
- Principal investigator: Nathan Congdon, MD — Queen's University, Belfast
- Study coordinator: Paul Glewwe, PhD
- Email: pglewwe@umn.edu
- Phone: +1 612 625 0225
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.