Active clinical trials for "Macular Degeneration"

This study will explore whether taking the vitamins lutein and zeaxanthin, with or without Omega-3 fatty acid (fish oil or docosahexanoic acid, also known as DHA) will change the amount of lutein and zeaxanthin in the blood among people with age-related macular degeneration (AMD). AMD is one of the leading causes of legal blindness among people over the age of 50 in developed countries. In the disease, the retina of the eye, the sensory portion, worsens in condition. AMD causes progressive loss of central vision, with only peripheral vision remaining, that is, the ability for someone to see from the edges of the eye. To date, there is not any effective treatment to improve vision for most people whose AMD is advanced. Yet some data from research studies suggest a possible role of antioxidants, including lutein, in reducing the risk of AMD and cataracts. Lutein and zeaxanthin belong to the carotenoid family of vitamins, of which there are more than 600. There are 40 or 50 carotenoids in the typical diet of human beings, but only 14 major dietary ones are identified in human plasma. Lutein, in particular, is a vitamin that is found naturally in the retina, especially in the macula, the region of the eye that is essential for fine, detailed vision. Previous studies have shown that higher levels of foods rich in Omega-3 fatty acid were associated with a lower likelihood of AMD. Patients ages 60 and older who may or may not have AMD, who do not have certain other serious eye disorders, and who have not had potentially life-threatening illness in the last year may be eligible for this study. About 40 people will participate. Patients will undergo a medical history and physical examination. A blood collection of about 4 tablespoons will be done to measure the amount of lutein and other vitamins in the blood. Patients will have a complete eye examination consisting of procedures standard to those given by ophthalmologists. Participants will have photographs taken of their eyes, and they will undergo a visual field test. Flicker photometry also will be conducted. This consists of the patients looking at a flashing bluish light with one eye at a time, and turning a knob until the light stops flashing. Then during the test, patients will look away from the light and turn the knob until the flashing stops. During this study study, patients will be asked to not take more than two tablets each day of multivitamins that contain lutein. The vitamin supplements will be provided as pills that represent one of two vitamin regimens given on a random basis: either lutein and zeaxanthin with DHA or lutein and zeaxanthin without DHA added. The amounts would be 10 mg/day of lutein and 2 mg/day of zeaxanthin, with or without 1 g/day of DHA. Patients will return to the study center for follow-up visits at 1 month, 3 months, 6 months, and 9 months. During those visits, some of the examinations done earlier will be repeated so that the researchers can evaluate the effects of supplements on patients' eyes. Patients will also be watched for possible side effects from the vitamins supplements. Lutein and zeaxanthin supplements are considered to be safe with possible minor side effects, such as headaches and difficulty in swallowing the tablets. Fish oil or DHA supplements may also cause abdominal discomfort. If information obtained from this study may be important for participants' health, they will be informed when it is available. There are no plans to give participants the results of any medical tests, evaluations, or other research data. Further research may be necessary before such results become meaningful.

To determine whether VISUDYNE therapy in combination with 4 mg intravitreal triamcinolone will reduce the average loss from baseline of best corrected visual acuity (BCVA) as compared with Visudyne therapy without intravitreal triamcinolone at 12 months in subjects with occult subfoveal and minimally classic subfoveal CNV secondary to AMD. The intravitreal triamcinolone will be given as either a 1 mg or 4 mg dose. This study will also evaluate the safety of Visudyne therapy in combination with intravitreal triamcinolone. An interim statistical readout will be performed when the first 60 patients have completed 6 months of follow-up evaluation.

This study will examine the efficacy and safety of pegaptanib sodium in Japanese patients with wet-type AMD, in order to establish that there is no large difference in the efficacy and the safety of the drug between Western and Japanese patients.

This study will evaluate visual improvement in patients treated with Immune Globulin Intravenous (Human), 10% Caprylate/Chromatography Purified (IGIV-C) or placebo who have Age-Related Macular Degeneration (AMD) with occult Choroidal Neovascularization (CNV).

The objective of this study is to evaluate the safety and preliminary efficacy of three doses of Cand5. Cand5, a small interfering RNA molecule that selectively silences the mRNA encoding for VEGF.

To evaluate the safety and efficacy of the combination treatments in wet age-related macular degeneration. The combination treatment consists of verteporfin photodynamic therapy and either triamcinolone acetonide or pegaptanib added as an intravitreal injection.

This is a Phase IIIb, single-masked, 1-year multicenter study of the safety and tolerability of intravitreally administered ranibizumab in subjects with active subfoveal CNV secondary to AMD.

This study will determine whether the drug celecoxib (Celebrex® (Registered Trademark)) can help stabilize or improve vision in patients with age-related macular degeneration (AMD) who are receiving photodynamic therapy, or PDT (also called cold laser treatment). The macula is the part of the retina in the back of the eye that determines central or best vision. AMD can severely impair central vision, affecting a person's ability to read, drive, and carry out daily activities. This vision loss is caused by the formation of abnormal new blood vessels in the choroid-a thin, pigmented vascular layer of the eye behind the retina-that leak blood under the macula. PTD stops the growth of these blood vessels and slows the rate of vision loss. However, the treatment usually does not cause vision to improve, and it has only a temporary effect, requiring several treatments over 2 years. Furthermore, PDT does not work in all patients and may actually cause some swelling and re-growth of blood vessels. Celecoxib is an anti-inflammatory drug that, in animal studies, has prevented the growth of abnormal blood vessels associated with tumors and with injury to the cornea. Thus, the drug might reduce swelling and prevent vessel re-growth in AMD, enhancing the effectiveness of PDT. Patients 55 years of age and older with AMD and visual acuity of 20/20 to 20/200 may be eligible for this study. Participants will be randomly assigned to take either celecoxib or a placebo (a look-alike pill with no active drug) twice a day and undergo the various tests and procedures detailed below. Not every examination will be done at every visit, but all may be required at one visit. Medical history and physical examination Blood drawing: A blood sample is drawn from an arm vein to evaluate liver and kidney function Eye examination: Visual acuity and eye pressure are measured, and the lens, retina, pupils and eye movements are examined Photography: Photographs of the eye are taken using a special camera with a bright flash Fluorescein angiography: Pictures of the retina are taken to look for abnormal blood vessels. A yellow dye is injected into an arm vein and travels to the blood vessels in the eyes. The retina is photographed using a camera that flashes a blue light into the eye. The pictures show if any dye has leaked from the vessels into the retina, indicating possible blood vessel abnormality. Indocyanine green angiography: This procedure, similar to fluorescein angiography, uses a green dye to photograph the retina and identify portions of abnormal vessels in the deepest part of the retina. Optical coherence tomography: This new technique uses light to produce a 2-dimensional cross-sectional picture of the retina. The patient looks into a machine called an optical coherence tomograph at a pattern of flashing and rotating red and green lights, first with one eye and then the other. One week after starting the study medications, laser treatment will begin. For this procedure, a needle is placed in an arm vein and a chemical called verteporfin (Visudyne® (Registered Trademark)) is infused into the vein over 10 minutes. After 15 minutes, the eye is anesthetized with numbing drops. A special contact lens is then placed on the eye and the laser beam is directed to the eye for 83 seconds. Patients will be followed in the clinic every 6 weeks for 36 weeks for various examinations and possible re-treatment, if needed. Some patients will be asked to return 1 to 2 weeks after the first PDT for an eye examination and fluorescein angiography.

The purpose of the study is to determine whether the anti-VEGF drug is effective at stabilizing and/or improving vision in patients with the wet form of AMD

To assess the clinical course, prognosis, and risk factors of age-related macular degeneration (AMD) and cataract. To evaluate, in randomized clinical trials, the effects of pharmacologic doses of (1) antioxidants and zinc on the progression of AMD and (2) antioxidants on the development and progression of lens opacities.