Eye clinic upgrades

Since our last data collection session in March 2017 our eye research clinic has undergone a few modifications/upgrades. These changes minimize congestion and promote a better flow between different data collection stations for our study volunteers, as well as autonomizing our blood collection area.

In the left panel (below) a sign directs our volunteers to the new area where visual acuity testing, refractive error testing and A-scan ultrasound biometry now take place. The sign is written in Nepali (roughly translated as 'vision and refraction'), an Indo-Aryan language derived from Sanskrit, and the symbol to the far right that may look like the Arabic numeral 9, is in fact the Nepali numeral 1. In the right panel (below) we are now looking out of the vision and refraction testing area where an obscured Ram Chrandra ji is pointing to a Tumbling E chart for one of our study volunteers.

In the left panel (below) a female study volunteer waits to undergo visual acuity and refraction error testing, and A-scan biometry. Meanwhile, a rooster passes by in the background. The right panel (below) is a closeup of the entrance to the 'vision and refraction' room.

In the left panel (below) our new signage indicates to study volunteers that this area is the 'special investigation' testing area. Here, study volunteers undergo visual field testing with the Humphrey visual field analyzer and assessment of the anterior and posterior of their eye with optical coherence tomography. The symbol beneath the 'special investigation' door sign (in Nepali) is the Nepali numeral 2. In the middle panel (below) we see Dr. Suman ji (his back to us) walking into the 'eye examination' area where he performs pre- and post-mydriatic slit lamp examinations. The symbol to the right of the 'eye examination' inscription on the wooden cross bar is the Nepali numeral 3. Meanwhile, Dr. Brad ji provides yet another account of his motocycling adventures or his plans to expand aspects of the Jiri Growth Study. The right panel (below) depicts the entrance to the new 'blood collection' room. The symbol (looks like alpha rotated 90 degrees counter-clockwise) to the  right of the inscription on the wooden cross bar is the Nepali numeral 4. Meanwhile, we see Dr. Sandy ji double checking some data entered into the anthropometry book.

The left panel (below) depicts a close up of where the study volunteers sit to have their blood pressure, pulse and mean arterial pressure recorded. Blood is also collected. The blood sample is used to test cholesterol and blood sugar levels, and isolate DNA in order to identify genetic loci influencing variation in eye health metrics and risk of developing eye diseases such as glaucoma and cataract. The right panel (below) is a close up of some of the extra room the research team has to perform their tasks.

Another modification to our field activities is testing blood sugar (HbA1c) on the fly, so-to-speak, and not at the end of the day. By doing so, study volunteers get an estimate of their blood sugar levels (important for diagnosing diabetes) soon (5 minutes) after their blood is drawn. The left panel (below) depicts the area where testing HbA1c levels takes place and the the right panel (below) is a closeup shot of the testing area.