CataractSIGHTNCT07611682
Community-Based Eye Screening With Structured Referral Tracking for Preventing Avoidable Blindness in Adults in Rawalpindi, Pakistan
A study testing Structured Referral Tracking (SRT) in people with Cataract and Refractive Error, run by Health Services Academy, Islamabad, Pakistan at 1 site in Pakistan.
Trial summary
This cluster randomized controlled trial aims to evaluate the effectiveness of a Structured Referral Tracking (SRT) intervention in improving referral completion among adults identified with avoidable blindness during community-based eye screening camps in Rawalpindi District, Pakistan. Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 18 years and older
- Conditions the study is for
- Cataract, Refractive Error, Diabetic Retinopathy
- What is being tested?
- Structured Referral Tracking (SRT)
- Type of treatment
- Lifestyle or therapy programme
- Could I receive a placebo?
- No, everyone receives an active treatment
- How many people
- 500 participants
- Where
- 1 sitePakistan
- Study dates
- 1 Jun 2026to 30 Nov 2026
- Phase
- Interventional
- Are there results?
- Not yet: the study is under way
Key requirements
Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.
- Ages 18 years and older
- All sexes
- No healthy volunteers
- Adult, Older adult
Who may be able to join
- Adults aged 18 years or above
- Individuals diagnosed with visual impairment or eye conditions requiring referral to a tertiary eye care facility
- Permanent residents of Rawalpindi District, Pakistan
- Willing and able to provide informed consent
Who cannot join
- Individuals already undergoing treatment for the identified eye condition
- Individuals requiring emergency ophthalmic care
- Severe systemic or physical illness limiting follow-up
- Individuals unable to provide informed consent
Trial locations and contacts
1 site in 1 country. Contact the study team or a site near you to ask about taking part.
Pakistan1 site
ACCO Department, Al-Shifa Trust Eye Hospital, Rawalpindi
Rawalpindi, Punjab Province, 46600
About this study
Official title: Community-Based Eye Screening With a Structured Referral Tracking Intervention for the Prevention of Avoidable Blindness Among Adults in Rawalpindi District, Pakistan
This cluster randomized controlled trial aims to evaluate the effectiveness of a Structured Referral Tracking (SRT) intervention in improving referral completion among adults identified with avoidable blindness during community-based eye screening camps in Rawalpindi District, Pakistan. Ten community clusters will be randomized into intervention and control groups. Participants in the intervention group will receive structured referral counseling, weekly reminder calls or messages, and customized referral guidance for eight weeks, while the control group will receive standard referral procedures. The primary outcome is referral completion at a tertiary eye hospital within eight weeks after screening. Secondary outcomes include knowledge regarding avoidable blindness, treatment satisfaction, feasibility, acceptability, and barriers influencing referral completion.
Read the detailed description
Avoidable blindness remains a major public health challenge in low- and middle-income countries, including Pakistan. Community-based eye screening camps are commonly used to identify individuals with visual impairment and eye diseases requiring treatment; however, referral completion to tertiary eye care facilities remains poor. Many patients fail to attend referral hospitals because of limited awareness, lack of follow-up, transportation barriers, and uncertainty regarding treatment procedures.
This study aims to evaluate the effectiveness and implementation of a Structured Referral Tracking (SRT) intervention in improving referral completion among adults identified with avoidable blindness during community-based eye screening camps in Rawalpindi District, Pakistan.
The study will use a cluster randomized controlled trial design. Ten community clusters (union councils) from five tehsils of Rawalpindi District will be selected using multistage random sampling. Clusters will be randomized into intervention and control arms. Participants attending eye screening camps who are diagnosed with eye conditions requiring referral to a tertiary eye hospital will be enrolled after informed consent.
Participants in the intervention arm will receive a multi-component Structured Referral Tracking intervention consisting of referral counseling, weekly reminder calls or mobile messages, visual educational material, and customized referral guidance regarding hospital location, estimated costs, and required documents. Participants in the control arm will receive standard referral procedures consisting of routine counseling and referral slips without structured follow-up.
The primary outcome will be referral completion at the tertiary eye hospital within eight weeks after screening, verified through hospital attendance records. Secondary outcomes will include knowledge regarding avoidable blindness, treatment satisfaction, feasibility and acceptability of the intervention, and barriers influencing referral completion.
The findings of this study are expected to provide evidence regarding the effectiveness and feasibility of structured referral tracking systems for improving eye care service utilization and reducing avoidable blindness in Pakistan.
- Conditions
- Cataract, Refractive Error, Diabetic Retinopathy
- Being tested
- Structured Referral Tracking (SRT)
- Keywords
- Community Eye Screening, Avoidable Blindness, Cataract, Refractive Error, Diabetic Retinopathy, Referral System, Structured Referral Tracking
- Medical subject headings
- Cataract, Refractive Errors, Diabetic Retinopathy
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
Structured Referral Tracking (SRT)Behavioural
A multi-component referral tracking intervention including referral counseling, weekly reminder calls or mobile messages, visual educational material, and customized referral guidance to improve referral completion after community eye screening.
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| Structured Referral Tracking (SRT) | Experimental | Participants will receive structured referral counseling, weekly reminder calls or messages, visual educational material, and customized referral guidance for eight weeks following community-based eye screening. Receives: Behavioral: Structured Referral Tracking (SRT) |
| Standard Referral Procedure | No intervention | Participants will receive routine referral slips and standard counseling without structured follow-up or reminder communication. |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
Referral Completion Rate Verified Through Hospital Records
Proportion of referred participants who complete referral visits at the tertiary eye hospital, verified through hospital attendance records.
Measured: Within 8 weeks after community eye screening
Secondary outcomes (3)
Knowledge Score on Avoidable Blindness Questionnaire
Participant knowledge regarding avoidable blindness and eye health assessed using a structured questionnaire developed for the study.
Measured: Baseline and 8 weeks after screening
Participant Acceptability of Structured Referral Tracking Assessed Using Structured Feedback Questionnaire
Participant acceptability of the Structured Referral Tracking intervention assessed using a structured feedback questionnaire regarding usefulness and satisfaction with reminder communication.
Measured: Within 8 weeks after screening
Barriers Influencing Referral Completion Assessed Using Structured Barrier Assessment Questionnaire
Barriers and facilitators influencing referral completion assessed using a structured questionnaire among referred participants.
Measured: Within 8 weeks after screening
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted28 May 2026
- Study start1 Jun 2026 (estimated)
- Primary completion1 Jun 2026 (estimated)
- Study completion30 Nov 2026 (estimated)
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Publications (3)Papers the sponsor has linked to this study.
- Other trials for CataractStudies of the same condition, open and under way.
- What the trial phases meanHow a treatment moves from first tests in people to approval.
More details
For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.
Study design
- Study type
- Interventional
- Phase
- Phase N/A
- Primary purpose
- Prevention
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Model description
- Community clusters (union councils) will be randomized into intervention and control arms. Participants within each cluster will receive the same referral procedure according to cluster allocation.
- Masking
- Single blind
- Who is masked
- Outcomes assessor
- Enrolment
- 500 participants (estimated)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- Health Services Academy, Islamabad, Pakistan
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Collaborators
- Al-Shifa Trust Eye Hospital
- Responsible party
- Principal investigator, Khizar Nabeel, Health Services Academy, Islamabad, Pakistan
- Investigators
- Dr. Ahmad Abdullah, PHD, Study director, Shifa International Hospital, Islamabad
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07611682
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- hsa2026135
- Acronym
- SIGHT
- Status last verified
- Jun 2026
- First submitted
- 13 May 2026
- Last updated
- 4 Jun 2026
- Results posted
- No
- Data monitoring committee
- Yes
- FDA-regulated drug
- No
- FDA-regulated device
- No
- Individual data sharing
- Undecided: De-identified individual participant data underlying the published results may be shared upon reasonable request after publication of the primary study findings.
Publications
Harwood M, Cunningham W. Lessons from 2020 for equity in global eye health. Lancet Glob Health. 2021 Apr;9(4):e387-e388. doi: 10.1016/S2214-109X(21)00036-X. Epub 2021 Feb 16. No abstract available.
PubMed 33607017World Health Organization. Blindness and visual impairment. Geneva: World Health Organization; 2023
Khan AA, Talpur KI, Awan Z, Arteaga SL, Bolster NM, Katibeh M, Watts E, Bastawrous A. Improving equity, efficiency and adherence to referral in Pakistan's eye health programmes: Pre- and post-pandemic onset. Front Public Health. 2022 Jul 22;10:873192. doi: 10.3389/fpubh.2022.873192. eCollection 2022.
PubMed 35937227
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 4 Jun 2026. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- Community-Based Eye Screening With a Structured Referral Tracking Intervention for the Prevention of Avoidable Blindness Among Adults in Rawalpindi District, Pakistan
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07611682
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- SIGHT / hsa2026135
- Conditions
- Cataract, Refractive Error, Diabetic Retinopathy
- Keywords
- Community Eye Screening, Avoidable Blindness, Cataract, Refractive Error, Diabetic Retinopathy, Referral System, Structured Referral Tracking
- Study type
- Interventional
- Recruitment status
- Not yet recruiting
- Enrolment
- 500 participants (estimated)
- Lead sponsor
- Health Services Academy, Islamabad, PakistanUniversity, hospital or other
- Collaborators
- Al-Shifa Trust Eye Hospital
- Study start
- 1 Jun 2026 (estimated)
- Primary completion
- 1 Jun 2026 (estimated)
- Study completion
- 30 Nov 2026 (estimated)
- First posted
- 28 May 2026 (actual)
- Results
- Not posted in the source record
Clinical summary
The research question as the sponsor registered it. This describes what the study plans to test, not what it found.
This cluster randomized controlled trial aims to evaluate the effectiveness of a Structured Referral Tracking (SRT) intervention in improving referral completion among adults identified with avoidable blindness during community-based eye screening camps in Rawalpindi District, Pakistan. Ten community clusters will be randomized into intervention and control groups. Participants in the intervention group will receive structured referral counseling, weekly reminder calls or messages, and customized referral guidance for eight weeks, while the control group will receive standard referral procedures. The primary outcome is referral completion at a tertiary eye hospital within eight weeks after screening. Secondary outcomes include knowledge regarding avoidable blindness, treatment satisfaction, feasibility, acceptability, and barriers influencing referral completion.
Detailed description
Avoidable blindness remains a major public health challenge in low- and middle-income countries, including Pakistan. Community-based eye screening camps are commonly used to identify individuals with visual impairment and eye diseases requiring treatment; however, referral completion to tertiary eye care facilities remains poor. Many patients fail to attend referral hospitals because of limited awareness, lack of follow-up, transportation barriers, and uncertainty regarding treatment procedures.
This study aims to evaluate the effectiveness and implementation of a Structured Referral Tracking (SRT) intervention in improving referral completion among adults identified with avoidable blindness during community-based eye screening camps in Rawalpindi District, Pakistan.
The study will use a cluster randomized controlled trial design. Ten community clusters (union councils) from five tehsils of Rawalpindi District will be selected using multistage random sampling. Clusters will be randomized into intervention and control arms. Participants attending eye screening camps who are diagnosed with eye conditions requiring referral to a tertiary eye hospital will be enrolled after informed consent.
Participants in the intervention arm will receive a multi-component Structured Referral Tracking intervention consisting of referral counseling, weekly reminder calls or mobile messages, visual educational material, and customized referral guidance regarding hospital location, estimated costs, and required documents. Participants in the control arm will receive standard referral procedures consisting of routine counseling and referral slips without structured follow-up.
The primary outcome will be referral completion at the tertiary eye hospital within eight weeks after screening, verified through hospital attendance records. Secondary outcomes will include knowledge regarding avoidable blindness, treatment satisfaction, feasibility and acceptability of the intervention, and barriers influencing referral completion.
The findings of this study are expected to provide evidence regarding the effectiveness and feasibility of structured referral tracking systems for improving eye care service utilization and reducing avoidable blindness in Pakistan.
Study design
- Primary purpose
- Prevention
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- Single blind (outcomes assessor)
- Number of arms
- 2
- Model description
- Community clusters (union councils) will be randomized into intervention and control arms. Participants within each cluster will receive the same referral procedure according to cluster allocation.
| Arm | Type | Receives |
|---|---|---|
| Structured Referral Tracking (SRT) | Experimental | Behavioral: Structured Referral Tracking (SRT)Participants will receive structured referral counseling, weekly reminder calls or messages, visual educational material, and customized referral guidance for eight weeks following community-based eye screening. |
| Standard Referral Procedure | No intervention | –Participants will receive routine referral slips and standard counseling without structured follow-up or reminder communication. |
Who may qualify
- Ages
- 18 years and older
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Not accepted
- Age groups
- Adult, Older adult
Key inclusion criteria (4 listed)
- Adults aged 18 years or above
- Individuals diagnosed with visual impairment or eye conditions requiring referral to a tertiary eye care facility
- Permanent residents of Rawalpindi District, Pakistan
- Willing and able to provide informed consent
Key exclusion criteria (4 listed)
- Individuals already undergoing treatment for the identified eye condition
- Individuals requiring emergency ophthalmic care
- Severe systemic or physical illness limiting follow-up
- Individuals unable to provide informed consent
Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening; this overview does not establish that a patient qualifies. Full inclusion and exclusion criteria.
Interventions
| Intervention | Type | Arms |
|---|---|---|
| Structured Referral Tracking (SRT)A multi-component referral tracking intervention including referral counseling, weekly reminder calls or mobile messages, visual educational material, and customized referral guidance to improve referral completion after community eye screening. | Behavioural | Structured Referral Tracking (SRT) |
Primary outcome
Referral Completion Rate Verified Through Hospital Records
Time frame: Within 8 weeks after community eye screening
Proportion of referred participants who complete referral visits at the tertiary eye hospital, verified through hospital attendance records.
3 secondary outcomes
Knowledge Score on Avoidable Blindness Questionnaire
Time frame: Baseline and 8 weeks after screening
Participant Acceptability of Structured Referral Tracking Assessed Using Structured Feedback Questionnaire
Time frame: Within 8 weeks after screening
Barriers Influencing Referral Completion Assessed Using Structured Barrier Assessment Questionnaire
Time frame: Within 8 weeks after screening
Results and safety
This study is still under way. Results are not available in the source record yet.
Research links
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govLast updated by the sponsor 4 Jun 2026.
- Background: PubMed 33607017Harwood M, Cunningham W. Lessons from 2020 for equity in global eye health. Lancet Glob Health. 2021 Apr;9(4):e387-e388. doi: 10.1016/S2214-109X(21)00036-X. Epub 2021 Feb 16. No abstract available.
- BackgroundWorld Health Organization. Blindness and visual impairment. Geneva: World Health Organization; 2023
- Results publication: PubMed 35937227Khan AA, Talpur KI, Awan Z, Arteaga SL, Bolster NM, Katibeh M, Watts E, Bastawrous A. Improving equity, efficiency and adherence to referral in Pakistan's eye health programmes: Pre- and post-pandemic onset. Front Public Health. 2022 Jul 22;10:873192. doi: 10.3389/fpubh.2022.873192. eCollection 2022.
- WHO Blindness and Visual ImpairmentLink provided by the sponsor.
- Individual participant dataSharing planned: Undecided. De-identified individual participant data underlying the published results may be shared upon reasonable request after publication of the primary study findings.
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Referral and contact
AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals. Contact the study team or a site listed below; they decide who can take part.
Dr. Ahmad Abdullah, PHD study director
Shifa International Hospital, Islamabad
1 site in 1 country: see every site and its status.
Questions about this trial
What is this clinical trial studying?
A study testing Structured Referral Tracking (SRT) in people with Cataract and Refractive Error, run by Health Services Academy, Islamabad, Pakistan at 1 site in Pakistan.
The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.
Who may be eligible to take part?
The sponsor lists 4 inclusion and 4 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.
Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?
The record says: opening soon, as of the sponsor's last update on 4 Jun 2026. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.
Where is the study taking place?
The record lists 1 site in Pakistan. Whether a site is taking part right now should be confirmed with that site. See every site.
What are the possible benefits and risks?
They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.
Are results available for this study?
This study is still under way. Results are not available in the source record yet.
How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?
Contact Khizar Nabeel, PHD (In progress) (+923455096776, khizar@hsa.edu.pk), or a site near the patient. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.
What does the primary outcome measure?
Referral Completion Rate Verified Through Hospital Records (time frame: Within 8 weeks after community eye screening). It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.
Where can I read the original study information?
On the ClinicalTrials.gov record for NCT07611682, which also lists 3 linked publications.
Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?
No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.
How often is this information updated?
AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 4 Jun 2026.