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Objective Assessment of Spectacle Wear in Infants and Toddlers Using a Wearable Sensor
Joseph M Miller1,2,3, Leslie K Dennis2, Chiu-Hsieh Hsu2
1Department of Ophthalmology and Vision Science, The University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, USA.
Insights
A thermal microsensor can feasibly monitor spectacle wear in young children. This technology offers reliable data for clinical monitoring and research on spectacle treatment effectiveness.
Area of Science:
- Ophthalmology
- Biomedical Engineering
- Pediatrics
Background:
- Accurate monitoring of spectacle wear is crucial for effective vision correction in infants and toddlers.
- Current methods for tracking spectacle adherence in young children have limitations.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the feasibility of using a thermal microsensor to monitor spectacle wear in children aged 3 to 47 months.
- To assess the reliability of two methods (temperature threshold and human judgment) for estimating spectacle wear from sensor data.
- To validate sensor-derived wear estimates against direct observation.
Main Methods:
- A thermal microsensor was integrated into pediatric spectacle headbands for 14 days.
- Sensor data (date, time, ambient temperature) were collected every 15 minutes.
- Spectacle wear was dichotomized using temperature threshold (TT) and human judgment (HJ) methods.
- Inter-method reliability and accuracy were assessed using Kappa statistics.
Main Results:
- Sensor data collection proved more reliable than parent wear reports.
- Both TT and HJ methods showed similar reliability for child data.
- Human judgment (HJ) provided more valid estimates of adult spectacle wear (κ = 0.94) compared to the TT method (κ = 0.78).
Conclusions:
- It is feasible to use a thermal microsensor to determine periods of spectacle wear in young children.
- The thermal microsensor is well-tolerated by pediatric participants.
- This technology holds promise for clinical monitoring and research in pediatric optometry.
Purpose:
To assess the feasibility of using a thermal microsensor to monitor spectacle wear in infants and toddlers, to determine the inter-method reliability of two methods of estimating spectacle wear from sensor data, and to validate sensor estimates of wear.
Methods:
Fourteen children, 3 to <48 months of age, and one adult were provided pediatric spectacles containing their spectacle prescription. A thermal microsensor attached to the spectacle headband recorded date, time, and ambient temperature every 15 minutes for 14 days. Parents were asked for daily spectacle wear reports, and the adult recorded wear using a smartphone app. Sensor data were dichotomized (wear/non-wear) using two methods: temperature threshold (TT) and human judgment (HJ). Kappa statistics assessed inter-method reliability (child data) and accuracy (adult data).
Results:
Data from two child participants were excluded (one because of corrupted sensor data and the other because of no parent log data). Sensor data were collected more reliably than parent wear reports. The TT and HJ analysis of child data yielded similar reliability. Adult sensor data scored using the HJ method provided more valid estimates of wear than the TT method (κ = 0.94 vs. 0.78).
Conclusions:
We have demonstrated that it is feasible to deduce periods of spectacle wear using a thermal data logger and that the sensor is tolerated by children.
Translational Relevance:
Results indicate that it is feasible to use a thermal microsensor to measure spectacle wear for use in clinical monitoring or for research on spectacle treatment in children under 4 years of age.
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