Novel tactile bottle neck adaptor facilitates eye drop adherence in visually impaired patients

Abstract

Purpose: To test the use of Ring-IT, a novel 3D tactile bottle neck adaptor in topical eye drop adherence in visually impaired patients.

Methods: Bottle neck ring adaptors with either one, two or three protrusions with cube or sphere endings were designed. In phase 1, low vision was simulated in healthy subjects (n=20) with a 20/200 vision simulator; while in phase 2, visually impaired patients (n=26; 20/70 or worse) were recruited. Subjects were randomised to six combinations of varying protrusions and shapes on medication bottles and asked to identify these traits at different presentations. Responses and time to identify were recorded.

Results: Phase 1: 98.3% of subjects correctly identified the number of protrusions. Mean time to identify was 4.5±6.1 s. Identification success for cube and sphere end pieces were 91.7% and 73.3%, with average time for identification of 9.9±7.6 and 10.9±9.0 s. In phase 2, 92.3% of subjects correctly identified the number of protrusions. Mean time to identify was 6.0±3.0 s. Identification success for cube and sphere end pieces were 78.2% and 74.4%; with average time for identification of 7.5±4.8 and 8.5±5.6 s, respectively.

Conclusions: Ring-IT was identified with accuracy and speed by both low vision simulated subjects, and by patients with true limited visual capabilities. These tactile bottle neck ring adaptors can be used as an assistive low vision aid device and may increase eye drop regimen adherence in visually impaired patients.

Keywords: Glaucoma; Low vision aid; Rehabilitation; Vision.

Figure 1

Ring-IT specific design that attaches to eye drop bottle neck with either cube or sphere ends.

Figure 2

Percentage of shapes identified in phase 1 (figure 2a) and phase 2 (figure 2b) and time taken to identify shapes in phases 1 (figure 2c) and 2 (figure 2d) are shown. SD bars are depicted in all figures. Mann Whitney test was used to compare data across groups with* showing p=0.0072 for significance.

Figure 3

Percentage of protrusion frequency identified in phase 1 (figure 3a) and phase 2 (figure 3b) are shown. Figure 3c and figure 3d show the time taken to identify the protrusions. SD bars are depicted with * showing p=0.0439 (Mann Whitney test). Significance was found across groups using one-way ANOVA in figure 3b. ANOVA, analysis of variance.