Home
/
Research
/
VISFACT

Visual Field Reading Center

Shiley Eye Institute | VISFACT

Visual Field Reading Center (VisFACT)

VisFACT Visual Field Assessment Center

Who We Are
‍The Visual Field Assessment Center (VisFACT), a visual field reading center, offers a wide variety of services in support of clinical research. Our highly skilled researchers and staff are expertly trained in several types of visual field testing and analysis. Our extensive experience includes collaboration with pharmaceutical companies, other universities, research centers, and clinics in the United States and around the world.
‍
What We Do
Our areas of expertise include, but are not limited to, the Humphrey Field Analyzer. We partner with visual field equipment manufacturers and software developers to implement innovative solutions, improve operational efficiency, and standardize processes across study sites.

Visual Field Reading Center (VisFACT)

Services

‍VisFACT offers a variety of services to meet study-specific needs. Dr. Zangwill and the VisFACT team will work with the study sponsor to provide the optimum complement of services to ensure successful data extraction, management, and quality of visual fields.

Protocol Development

• Assist in the development of visual field protocols
• Develop and maintain data collection forms and study documents
• Provide study-specific manual of procedures
‍• Provide protocols and training for electronic transfer of visual fields between sites and sponsors.
‍• Provide study-specific information to study manufacturers to assist in upgrading or standardizing instruments across sites

Training and Certification

• Training of multi-center study personnel
‍• Certification of multi-center study personnel

Quality Assessment

• Review visual fields for quality and adherence to protocol
• Provide quality control reports and actionable feedback to study centers to promote protocol adherence and data quality
• Request repeated testing or data corrections as needed to ensure complete and accurate data
• Evaluate and pre-approve instrument hardware and software upgrades to ensure compatibility, performance, and study continuity

Data Handling

•  FDA 21 CFR Part 11, HIPAA and IRB compliant data handling
•  Study-specific visual field quality and protocol adherence assessment
•  IT /computer programming specialists available to create and maintain secure databases and provide support for all study needs
•  Efficient electronic transfer of visual fields and test results
•  Validate reading center processes to ensure accuracy, consistency, and regulatory compliance

Visual Field Processing and Analysis

• Review visual fields for specific diagnoses and inclusion/exclusion criteria
• Provide to sponsors study data and quality control results in user-friendly formats accompanied by comprehensive data dictionaries
• Provide progression analysis
• Provide statistical analysis
• Other services

Contact Dr. Zangwill hgcreadingcenters@health.ucsd.edu to discuss services not listed above. A companion reading center, the IDEA Center (Imaging Data Evaluation and Analysis Center), is available to provide similar services for photographic and imaging data.
VisFACT

Reading Center Studies

VisFACT has provided reading center services for the following studies:

Sponsored by National Eye Institute

• Monitoring of Glaucoma Patients in Advanced Disease (2022-present)
• A Randomized Clinical Trial Evaluating Fenofibrate for Prevention of Diabetic Retinopathy Worsening. Protocol AF (2020-present)
• Longitudinal Natural History Study of Retinal Function in Eyes of Patients with Diabetes. Protocol AR (2026-present) Provide progression analysis
• Longitudinal Study of Retinal Function in Eyes Treated for Diabetic Macular Edema with Anti-VEGF Agents. Protocol AS (2026-present)
• Multimodal Artificial Intelligence to Predict Glaucomatous Progression and Surgical Intervention (2022-2026)
• Diagnostic Innovations in Glaucoma Study (DIGS). (2003-present)
• Diagnosis and Monitoring of Glaucoma with Optical Coherence Tomography Angiography (2018-2026)
• Diagnostic Innovations in Glaucoma Study (DIGS): Glaucoma and High Myopia (2017-present)

African Descent and Glaucoma Evaluation Study (ADAGES)

• African Descent and Glaucoma Evaluation Study (ADAGES) IV: Alterations of the Lamina Cribrosa in Progression (2017-2022)
• African Descent and Glaucoma Evaluation Study (ADAGES) III: Contribution of Genotype to Glaucoma Phenotype in African Americans (2014-2019)
• African Descent and Glaucoma Evaluation Study (ADAGES II) (2009-2016)
• African Descent and Glaucoma Evaluation Study (ADAGES) (2003-2009)

Sponsored by Pfizer Inc

• Prospective Randomized 12-Week Controlled Study of Visual Field Change in Subjects with Partial Seizures Receiving Pregabalin or Placebo (2017-2020)

Sponsored by Quark Pharmaceuticals Inc

• A phase IIA double-masked randomized sham-controlled trial of QPI-1007 delivered by a single intravitreal injection to subjects with acute primary angle-closure glaucoma (APACG) (2013-2015)

Sponsored by Catalyst Pharmaceutical Partners (2010-2013)

• Vigabatrin for Treatment of Cocaine Dependence: A Phase II Study. Protocol Number CPP-01005
• Vigabatrin for Treatment of Cocaine Dependence: A Phase II Study. Protocol Number CPP-01004
• Vigabatrin for Treatment of Methamphetamine Dependence: A Phase II Study. Number CPP-02001

VisFACT

Reading Center Personnel

Sponsored by Catalyst Pharmaceutical Partners (2010-2013)

• Linda Zangwill, PhD; Director
• Keri Dirkes, MPH; Managing Director
• Christopher Bowd, PhD;  Senior Grader
• Maria Hunsicker; Coordinator
• Suzanne Vega, MPH; Coordinator

VisFACT

Scientific Advisory Board

Our board is composed of internationally recognized ophthalmologists and researchers including:

• Christopher Girkin, MD, MSPH
• Robert N. Weinreb, MD
• Linda M. Zangwill, PhD

Additional Information & Resources
Mission Statement
Engagement with UCSD Health and Campus
Additional Links and Resources

Information about diversity and inclusion is available through multiple venues. First, there are several websites available that provide information about diversity initiatives across the entire campus (diversity.ucsd.edu) and the (School of Medicine). Many departments have their own websites as well. Virtually all departments at UCSD have identified an Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI) ambassador, typically a faculty member who spearheads diversity-related initiatives in their areas/specialties and also collaborates with various entities across the medical school.

There are several active affinity organizations for UCSD medical students. These include:

‍The Association of Native American Medical Students (ANAMS)
‍The Asian Pacific American Medical Students Association (APAMSA)LGBTQ
Pharmacy and Medical Students (LGBTQ-PhaM)
‍The Latino Medical Student Association (LMSA)
‍Medical Students for Justice (MS4J)
‍The Student National Medical Association (SNMA)

‍UCSD also offers a curricular pathway called Program in Medical Education – Health Equity (PRIME - HEq), which part of a system-wide effort at the University of California to train physicians better able to meet the needs of the diverse Californian population who are traditionally underserved by the medical system. PRIME-HEq faculty work with students to identify populations or communities at risk for health disparities. Students will then receive exposure, training, and the opportunity to work with the identified group to further their passion in the area and provide knowledge and skills to better equip the students to improve health equity for the group.