Clinical Research Directory

Body Image, Identity Development, and Social Media Use Among Youth With Visual Impairment: A Single Case Intervention Study

1\. Introduction This 3-week single case intervention study is funded by the Horizon Europe Research Program and is part of the VIPPSTAR project (Project 101156763 - VIPPSTAR "Visually Impaired children and adolescents: bridging the gap with Personalized Prevention Strategies, Tools, Approaches, and Resources). Within this project, the Belgian consortium will focus on the development of body image in relation to the social media use of children (10-11 years old) and adolescents (12-18 years old) with visual impairment (VI). This intervention study builds upon the insights done in earlier studies within the project, a focus group study and daily diary study. In the intervention study, children and adolescents with visual impairment will complete digital body image exercises through the first version of VIPPSTAR app. It is important to note that the data collection for this particular study will be limited to Flanders, Belgium, and will not extend to the other countries involved in the VIPPSTAR project. Furthermore, the ethical approval obtained for this study is specifically for collecting data from Flemish participants only, ensuring compliance with local ethical guidelines and regulations.

VIPPSTAR-G1 Digital Early Intervention for Visual Impairment

Visual impairment in infancy is associated with significant risks for neurodevelopmental impairment. Early intervention based on enriched visual and multisensory experiences may promote neuroplasticity and improve developmental outcomes, but implementation of intensive interventions in routine clinical practice remains challenging. The VIPPSTAR-G1 study evaluates a caregiver-mediated digital intervention delivered through a dedicated platform designed to support visual and neurodevelopmental functions in infants at risk of or with visual impairment, within a framework that promotes and strengthens the parent-child/caregiver-child relationship. This multicenter, multinational, single-blind randomized controlled trial will enroll 102 newborns at risk of visual impairment and an additional exploratory pilot subgroup of 48 infants and toddlers with established visual impairment. Participants will be randomized to receive either the VIPPSTAR digital intervention plus standard care or standard care alone. Outcomes include visual acuity, smooth pursuit, additional neuro-ophthalmological functions, neurodevelopmental measures, adaptive functioning, language development, parental stress, quality of life, and feasibility of the digital intervention.

Retinopathy of Prematurity - Visual Function and Retinal Structure

Children born prematurely may develop a characteristic retinal disease named retinopathy of prematurity (ROP). This disease could lead to retinal detachment and blindness. ROP was traditionally treated with laser, but injection with a medication (A-VEGF) has become more common. In this study, the researchers will explore whether treatment of ROP affects visual function and retinal development. To explore this, the study group will examine children with ROP (but not treated) with children treated with either laser or injection. The researchers will compare the children's visual functions (e.g. visual acuity and visual field) and their retinas (e.g. central and peripheral retina).

Neurodevelopmental Outcomes in Cerebral Visual Impairment

Cerebral visual impairment (CVI) is one of the leading causes of pediatric visual impairment and negatively impacts the development of motor, language, and cognitive skills. This study proposes to (1) establish a novel and easy to use CVI screening algorithm for infants and (2) develop CVI subtypes based on vision, motor, language, and cognition. The overarching goal is to identify CVI early and enhance our comprehension of CVI's impact on a child's development. The results will fundamentally change the approach to designing treatments for children with CVI.

In-person and Telehealth Visual Rehabilitation for Children With Low Vision

Restorative visual rehabilitation is frequently used to enhance the visual development and function of children with low vision. An important strategy within this field is visual stimulation, which is particularly used for infants and toddlers with low vision, as well as for children who have both developmental disabilities and low vision.This study has two primary objectives.The first objective is to examine the effect of using intensive, specific, and flickering black-and-white checkerboard patterns to enhance visual function in children with mild to moderate low vision. The second objective is to develop a visual stimulation program tailored for children with severe or profound multiple disabilities and visual impairments, and to evaluate its effectiveness.