Active clinical trials for "Macular Degeneration"

The purpose of this study is gain a better understanding of a molecule called alpha melanocyte stimulating hormone (alpha MSH) and its potential role in your retinal disease. Alpha MSH has been shown to have an important role in the regulation of ocular immunity in animal models of inflammatory retinal diseases and retinal dystrophies, and there may be a protective effect of alpha MSH. By studying the levels of alpha MSH in your eye we may better understand its role in advanced dry macular degeneration. By studying the levels of this molecule we hope to better understand if it may be a good target for future treatment.

The goals of this study are: To assess the impact of genetic testing based on how it alters behaviors, to assess the utility of serum biomarker measurement in combination with genetic testing, to assess the utility of genetic counseling in personal analysis of risk for age-related macular degeneration (AMD), and to assess the impact of presymptomatic genetic testing for choroidal neovascularization (CNV).

Efalizumab is an immunosuppressive recombinant humanized IgG1 monocolonal antibody (150 Kd) that binds to human CD11a (1) and is used for the treatment of plaque psoriasis. Efalizumab was derived from the humanization of the murine efalizuman monoclonal antibody MHM24, which recognizes human and chimpanzee CD11a. Humanization of MHM24 was accomplished by grafting the murine complementarity determining regions (hypervariable region) into consensus human IgG1/ heavy and light chain sequences (Werther et al 1996). These same consensus human immunoglobulin sequences have been successfully used in the humanization of other murine antibodies, including those targeted to HER2 and IgE. Efalizumab inhibits the binding of LFA-1 to intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) thereby inhibiting the adhesion of leukocytes to other cell types. Ranibizumab is a recombinant, humanized, Fab fragment of a mouse monoclonal antibody targeted against VEGF. As VEGF binds to cellular receptors, it stimulates angiogenesis and vascular leakage. Blockade of VEGF by ranibizumab leads to reduced stimulation of cell proliferation and permeability resulting in inhibition of angiogenesis and decreased leakage. Ranibizumab intravitreal administration in neovascular AMD patients has been shown to effectively reduce vascular leakage and growth of CNV and to stabilize or improve visual function. To further improve visual acuity, a combination therapy using efalizumab and ranibizumab is proposed. Efalizumab could target the adhesion factors that precede angiogenesis and improve the outcome for AMD patients in combination with the anti-VEGF agent, Ranibizumab.

RATIONALE: Aging may affect a person's vision. Vitamin E and/or selenium may help prevent cataracts or age-related macular degeneration in men receiving these drugs as part of a clinical trial for the prevention of prostate cancer. PURPOSE: This clinical trial is studying vitamin E and/or selenium to see how well they work in preventing cataract and age-related macular degeneration in men enrolled on SELECT (SWOG-S0000).

This randomized, controlled clinical trial, the Low Vision Depression Prevention TriAL (VITAL), will test the efficacy of collaborative low vision rehabilitation (LVR) to prevent depressive disorders in Age-Related Macular Degeneration (AMD). In this innovative intervention, a low vision occupational therapist collaborates with a low vision optometrist to develop and implement a care plan based on a subject's vision status, rehabilitation potential, and personal rehabilitation goals. An independent rater masked to treatment assignment will assess depressive disorders meeting DSM-IV criteria (primary outcome) and targeted vision function and vision-related quality of life (secondary outcomes) at baseline and then at 4 months to evaluate short-term effects (main trial end point) and at 12 months to evaluate long-term effects.

The primary objective of EMPOLS is an increase in macular pigment density (MPD) and contrast sensitivity (CS) after six months supplementation of oral non-compound ester Lutein 10 mg daily, contained in VitaluxPlus®.

This will be an open-label, non-randomized multi-center study of adipose stem cell (ASC) implantation. ASCs will be derived from the patient's adipose or fat. Liposuction using local anesthesia and syringe collection will be performed to collect the adipose tissue specimen for subsequent processing to isolate the stem cells. The cells will be delivered via needle injection into the eye.

This research will study natural course of dry AMD in Chinese population, screen fundus imaging indicators for patients with Chinese dry AMD, describe the clinical features of Chinese patients with dry AMD, and obtain a biological sample library of dry AMD mainly in China.

This retrospective observational study is intended to assess the feasibility of using a nonsignificant risk device for vision improvement for legally blind dry AMD patients.

The Retinal Care Data Repository's primary objective is to make data available for Retinal Care to develop algorithms that improve the care of people with retinal diseases.