Abstract
Purpose :
Eye drop compliance is five times worse in patients with impaired vision than normal vision despite the availability of current visual aids, such as colored bottle caps. The aim of the study is to test a novel 3D tactile label on the neck of the bottle, intended to increase accurate identification of medication and facilitate improved treatment compliance in low vision patients.
Methods :
A 3D tactile bottle adaptor was designed in red, blue, green, and yellow color. Each adapter has a square or sphere shape on protruding spikes that varies in number of protrusions, 1, 2, or 3. In phase 1 clinical trial 20 healthy adults (ages 18 – 100 years) were enrolled and asked to wear a low vision simulator. Fogged goggles were used to simulate 20/200 or worse visual acuity, binocularly. Each subject was randomized to a preset group of six combinations of varying colors, protrusions, and shapes. The subjects were asked to identify the characteristics of the tactile devices in three presentations. The evaluations included color, number of protrusions, and shape at the end of the protrusions. Responses and the time to identify each characteristic were recorded.
Results :
Accuracy of color identification was 100%, with an average time of 2.13 ± 1.03 seconds to identify. All subjects correctly identified the number protrusions when of one or two protrusions were presented (100%). The mean time taken was 3.13 ± 2.63 and 3.93 ± 4.48 seconds, respectively. Ninety-five per cent of the subjects identified 3 protrusions correctly with an average time taken of 4.53 ± 6.06 seconds. The identification success for square and sphere end pieces were 91.67% and 73.33%, with average time for identification of 9.87 ± 7.56 and 10.87 ±8.96 seconds, respectively.
Conclusions :
The novel 3D tactile adaptor on medication bottles was identified with great accuracy and speed by our low vision simulated subjects. Particularly, the color and number of protrusions were identified with the most accuracy. Although, patients more easily identified the square shaped end piece when compared to spheres, both were still identified relatively accurately and quickly. This data provides the basis for the phase II trial, in which patients with low vison will be tested for accurate medication identification.
This is a 2021 ARVO Annual Meeting abstract.