Active clinical trials for "Macular Degeneration"

Vision testing is a fundamental part of every optometry and ophthalmology assessment. Traditional vision testing charts are not able to measure vision below a certain level. Vision in this range is classified as counting fingers (CF), hand movements (HM) and light perception (LP). These measures are not very accurate or easily quantifiable. They are also poorly understood in terms of impact on quality of life. This study aims to assess new methods for measuring the vision of patients with very low vision.

Currently the best treatment for "wet" macular degeneration involves regular injections of Ranibizumab (Lucentis). In the initial clinical trials, the drug was injected into the eye every month. Since then a number of studies have found similar benefits when the drug is given with a fixed number of injections initially and then with further injections only when needed. This approach has been adopted in the UK, following recommendation by the National Institute for Clinical Excellence (NICE). Although this approach reduces the expense and risk of un-necessary treatment, it does require regular hospital assessment of disease activity to determine if a repeat injection is required or can be deferred. The hospital assessment is time-consuming, inconvenient and the large number of assessments can cause delays in hospital follow-up. Using three different assessment criteria to monitor disease activity at home, the investigators plan to see if home monitoring is as good as hospital assessment. The investigators have already identified that many patients dislike the lengthy hospital assessment visit and would welcome the opportunity to do some of the monitoring of disease activity at home. The investigators have also shown that they understand and can complete each of the home assessment tests. In this pilot project, the investigators aim to get an idea of how reliable home monitoring can be in a small sample of just over 30 patients. The data that the pilot project generates will be used to influence and to help plan a subsequent, larger, national study to be submitted for funding to the National Institute for Health Research.

Stargardt disease is currently an incurable and untreatable macular dystrophy that causes severe visual loss in children and young adults, thereby causing enormous morbidity with economic, psychological, emotional, and social implications. There are no FDA approved therapeutic treatments for this disease. Therefore, the objective of this study is to collect natural history data from a large population of children and adults in order to evaluate possible efficacy measures for planned clinical trials. Participants will be recruited from each Investigator's own patient population as the study requires the availability of both multiyear retrospective data, as well as ongoing prospectively collected data. A concurrent ancillary study (SMART study) is also being conducted with a subset of the prospective study patients during their regular ProgSTAR study visits to expand the collection of retinal images to include microperimetry measurements gathered under scotopic (low light) conditions.

The most common goal for patients with vision loss who present for vision rehabilitation is to be able to read. The video magnifier (a device which combines a video camera and a screen to view the print being magnified) is the device which most often allows low-vision individuals to read successfully for extended periods of time. Previous studies on the outcomes of vision rehabilitation have not identified which components of the vision rehabilitation are effective. The hypothesis of this project is that providing a video camera magnifier, with basic training in operating the device, will allow patients to enhance both objective reading ability and subjective report of reading competence.

The Visual Pathfinder (LACE inc.) offers a non- invasive, patient- centered visual rehabilitation system based on an acoustic biofeedback. The investigators wanted to evaluate its usefulness in the improvement of visual function in visually impaired patients with high myopia.

•Purpose: Age-related Macular Degeneration ( AMD) is the leading cause of blindness and visual impairment in industrialized countries. The macular pigment, composed of carotenoid derivatives (lutein and zeaxanthin), may play an important role in the occurrence of AMD. An increase in macular pigment following dietary supplementation with lutein and zeaxanthin could allow early treatment with such supplements in subjects with a high risk of AMD, and encourage them to change their eating habits. •Primary outcome: Comparative analysis of the density and evolution of the density of macular pigment: In patients without any retinal pathology who underwent cataract surgery 1 month previously In the non-exudative eye of patients with exudative AMD in one eye by analyzing the density and evolution of the density of macular pigment in the non-exudative eye Secondary outcomes: Analysis of changes in macular pigment density after taking food supplements (Nutrof Total versus comparator): Time taken to reach the maximum plateau of macular pigment density (no increase in density between 2 measurements) Time taken to return to the baseline macular pigment density after cessation of supplementation Study design : Pilot study -Prospective, randomised, double-masked, comparative, multicenter.

Background: - The Age-Related Eye Disease 2 Study (AREDS2) looked at two eye diseases. These were age-related macular degeneration (AMD) and cataracts. Participants in that study took supplement pills and some participants had additional pictures taken of their eyes. That study is now over. Researchers want to do a follow-up study after participants finish taking the pills, to see if they cause long-term effects on AMD. This study will be combined with follow-up visits of the AREDS2 study if possible. Objectives: - To learn more about the effect of oral supplements on AMD. Eligibility: - People who completed the AREDS2 study. Design: Participants will have up to 2 study visits over 6 18 months. Each visit will last up to 5 hours. The visits will be combined with annual follow-up visits in the AREDS2 study if possible. At each visit, participants will undergo an eye exam and photography. The eye exam includes testing sight, measuring eye pressure, and checking eye movements. To examine the inside of the eye, the pupil will be dilated with eye drops. Photographs of the inside of the eye may be taken during the eye exam and while the eyes are dilated. A contact lens may be placed on the eye briefly to look at the retina at the back of the eye.

Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is the chief cause of severe and irreversible loss of vision in developed countries. The prevalence of AMD increases dramatically with age. The early stage (or dry AMD) is associated with minimal visual impairment and is characterized by large drusen and pigmentary abnormalities in the macula. The late stage is a neovascular, exudative form. This so called exudative AMD includes serous or hemorrhagic detachment of retinal pigment epithelium and choroidal neovascularization leading to severe loss of vision (20/200 or worse). Patients with unilateral CNV (choroidal neovascularisation) have a significant risk of CNV developing in the second eye. Choroidal blood flow is of great importance for normal visual function. Several reports have provided evidence suggesting that choroidal blood flow is decreased in subjects with AMD. In late stages of AMD angiogenesis leads to the formation of choroidal neovascularization that can cause severe visual impairment by disrupting normal macular function. The purpose of this evaluation is to investigate a possible link between alterations in choroidal blood flow and the development of CNV and serous detachment in the fellow eye of patients with AMD and unilateral neovascular maculopathy. This longitudinal study may provide important findings with respect to natural history and visual prognosis of patients with neovascularized AMD. Ocular blood flow will be determined by non-invasive methods, including laser Doppler flowmetry and laser interferometry

Intravitreal injection can induce perioperative stress for the patients. Different factors can modulate the pre-operative fear and physiologic reaction.

This study will identify genes that are associated with inflammation or degeneration of the retina (membrane lining the back of the eye that relays vision signals to the brain). It is thought that many retinal conditions are due to an altered immune system and are based on how the person s genes function and communicate. People 4 years of age or older who have a retinal condition such as uveitis, age-related macular degeneration or diabetic retinopathy may be eligible for this study. Healthy volunteers and healthy people who have a family member with one of these conditions are also eligible. Patients with inherited retinal degeneration are excluded. Participants undergo the following tests and procedures: Eye examination to assess visual acuity (eye chart test) and eye pressure, and to examine the pupils, lenses, retina and eye movements. Photographs of the inside of the eye may also be taken. The pupils are dilated with drops for this examination. Blood draw for genetic testing. Participants may also undergo one or more of the following tests: Optical coherence tomography. This is a type of photograph of the back of the eye to measure thickness of the retina. Fluorescein angiography and indocyanine green angiography. Pictures of the eye s blood vessels are taken using either a fluorescein or indocyanine green dye. The dye is injected into a vein in an arm and travels to the blood vessels in the eyes. A camera takes pictures of the dye as it flows through the blood vessels. Electroretinogram (ERG) to measure retinal function. The patient sits in a dark room for 30 minutes with his or her eyes patched. Then, a small metal disk electrode is taped to the forehead, the eye patches are removed, the surface of the eye is numbed with eye drops, and contact lenses are placed on the eyes. The patient then watches flashing lights. The contact lenses sense small electrical signals generated by the retina when the light flashes....