Clinical application of dynamic visual acuity for detection of eye diseases: a scoping review protocol

Introduction Many eye diseases are asymptomatic in their early stages; thus, timely detection is essential for improved outcomes. Dynamic visual acuity (DVA)—the ability to perceive moving targets—has been reported as a valuable screening tool for early disease detection. However, unlike static visual acuity, DVA is not routinely assessed in the eye clinic, perhaps due to a lack of standardised measurement protocols and limited understanding among clinicians of its physiological and diagnostic relevance. This scoping review aims to assess the evidence on DVA; provide insight into its physiological basis, measurement techniques and potential for early detection of disease; and identify research gaps to inspire future studies. 

Methods and analysis The review will follow the Joanna Briggs Institute guidelines and will involve all relevant articles, including reviews and original studies published in online databases such as PubMed, Medline, Web of Science, Google Scholar, Scopus, Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature, EMBASE, Global Health and ScienceDirect. Also, a reference list of relevant articles will be searched, and insight from expert consultations and information from grey literature will be included in the review. Studies conducted with human subjects and in English, irrespective of the year of publication or study design, will be reviewed. Two independent reviewers will screen identified articles, with a third reviewer confirming findings. The data extraction tool will be tested in a pilot review, and the findings will be presented using tables and visual summaries. 

Ethics and dissemination No ethical approval is required. Findings will be presented at national and international conferences and published in peer-reviewed journals.