Active clinical trials for "Macular Degeneration"

The purpose of this study is to evaluate the fact that 20 milligrams per day of oral Zeaxanthin as a supplement to patients with Choroidal neovascularization (CNV) and exudative age related macular degeneration (ARMD) undergoing combination therapy with intravitreal Bevacizumab (Avastin), intravitreal Dexamethasone and PDT laser photocoagulation and improves anatomic and visual outcome compared to patients not receiving oral Zeaxanthin. Study patients will be taking AREDS(PreserVision) and multivitamins (Centrum Silver); in addition one-half of the patients will receive 20mg of oral Zeaxanthin.

The objective of this PMS is to gain information about safety and efficacy in real practice as a regulatory commitment required by MFDS

Risk factors for Age-related Macular Degeneration (AMD) involves genetic variations in the alternative pathway of complement inhibitor factor H. The complement system is part of the innate and adaptive immune system. Smoking is the only environmental factor known to increase the risk of Age-related Macular Degeneration (AMD). Using serum samples of Age-related Macular Degeneration (AMD) patients and controls the investigators will test the hypothesis that smoking increases Age-related Macular Degeneration (AMD) by increasing complement activation; and that this is positively correlated with known disease variations in the complement factor H (CFH) gene.

Repeated exposure to topical antibiotics may alter the normal bacteria on the eye and in the nose and increase rates of resistance. This study will determine whether repeated short-term exposure to topical antibiotic drops which are commonly prescribed after eye injections to reduce the chance of infection increase rates of resistant bacteria which are normally found on the eye and in the nose. We hypothesis that certain commercially available antibiotics may increase rates of bacteria resistance more so than others.

The Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT) is a non-contact, non invasive method to examine the retina by providing cross-sectional scans through the retina. Measurements of the retinal thickness based on automatically set border lines created by threshold algorithm provide information concerning the amount of intraretinal fluid and activity of the lesion. In this study the reproducibility of retinal thickness measurements in patients suffering from age-related macular degeneration performed by two independent examiners of two examinations of the same day but performed in a time interval of at least two hours should be evaluated. Using the macular thickness program of stratus OCT, 6 radial lines through the center of the foveal avascular zone are performed, Differences between the first and second measurement will be investigated by a 95% confidence interval, a Bland-Altman plot (with corresponding regression analysis) and a random effect model with time, examiner and diagnosis as fixed factors. Although threshold algorithm failures and fixation problems are common in age-related macular degeneration evidence of reproducibility and repeatability of maximum retinal thickness is expected.

To evaluate if supplementation of zeaxanthin (with or without Lutein) is beneficial to patients with early and moderate Atrophic Age Related Macular Degeneration.

This study will measure antibody levels in the blood of people with bleeding or swelling in the retina who have or have not been treated with bevacizumab (Avastin[Trademark]or ranibizumab (Lucentis[Trademark]). These drugs have been useful in reducing retinal bleeding and swelling in people with eye diseases that cause these symptoms, but the drugs' effects usually wear off and they have to be given repeatedly. In some patients, the benefits become less and less. It is possible that over time, patients taking these drugs may produce antibodies that act against the drugs, thus neutralizing their effects and preventing them from working properly. People 18 year of age and older who are participating in a current NEI protocol and meet the following criteria may be eligible for this study: Are receiving injections of bevacizumab or ranibizumab for bleeding or swelling in the retina, but the treatment is becoming less effective Are receiving injections of bevacizumab or ranibizumab for bleeding or swelling in the retina and the treatment is still effective Have bleeding or swelling in the retina, but have never received either bevacizumab or ranibizumab Participants have blood samples drawn once when they start the study, once in the middle of the study, and once at the end of the study. They are asked permission for study researchers to review the results of their eye examinations at NIH.

The objective of this study is to evaluate the effects of 2 intravitreal injections with Ranibizumab or Avastin on endothelial function in subjects with neovascular macular degeneration compared to patients with dry AMD.

The purpose is to assess long term vision outcomes and disease status in patients with age-related macular degeneration previously treated with ranibizumab as participants in the Phase 3 ANCHOR and MARINA Studies and the HORIZON Study.

Long-term observational study to assess the safety, efficacy and quality of life of patients with neovascular age-related macular degeneration (AMD) under Macugen treatment.