Randomised Controlled Trial of the Economic Advantages of Readers for Near vision in India

This is a prospective, single-masked, parallel group, two-arm individually randomised controlled trial (RCT), embedded within the community-based screening programme which is currently underway in Shahjahanpur and Lakhimpur Kheri districts, Uttar Pradesh, India. We aim to recruit adults between the ages 35 and 65 years, who have been identified as having presbyopia during screening, and do not own near vision glasses. Trial participants will be randomised to either the intervention arm - whereby individuals will be given free near vision glasses at the start of the study, or the control arm – whereby individuals will be given free near vision glasses at the end of the trial follow-up period (2 years). The co-primary outcomes are household consumption at 12 months and vision related quality of life at 12 months. Our secondary analysis will examine if the provision of near vision glasses to people of working age with presbyopia leads to: (i) increased individual income; (ii) increased household consumption, individual income, and/or workplace productivity in those who work in near vision intense/dependent occupations (occupational sub-group analysis). The findings will be written up for peer-reviewed publication and actively shared with key stakeholders. If the intervention proves effective it will inform policy and may catalyse funding to improve access to this relatively cheap and potentially cost-effective intervention.