View clinical trials related to Eye Diseases.
Filter by:The purpose of this pilot study is to evaluate the effect of diquafosol tetrasodium Ophthalmic Solution, 2% in dry eye subjects.
The study is designed to assess the safety and efficacy of Vismed®, a special eye drop containing sodium hyaluronate, in the treatment of dry eye syndrome. Vismed® is being compared to another eye drop, identical in composition except that it does not contain the active ingredient, sodium hyaluronate. This eye drop is designed as the "vehicle." Some subjects are to receive Vismed® treatment, while others are to receive the vehicle; the assignment of subjects to receive either Vismed or vehicle is to be random. The two-week treatment phase is followed by a one week follow-up period to evaluate safety of Vismed®.
This study is being done to investigate the effects (good and bad) of Rituximab for the treatment of an autoimmune eye disease called Graves' ophthalmopathy. This disease has proven to be difficult to treat. Rituximab is a monoclonal antibody that depletes a line of cells involved in the autoimmune response. The study hypotheses is that rituximab is effective in the treatment of patients with moderate to severe active Graves' ophthalmopathy.
This study is a 5-year extension of the AREDS protocol, in which investigators followed the natural course of age-related macular degeneration (AMD) and cataracts. Participants in the former AREDS protocol are eligible for this study. Participants have a complete eye examination once a year and are contacted at least once a year between visits to check on their status. The eye examination includes measurement of visual acuity (vision chart test) and examination of the inside of the eye after the pupils have been dilated with eye drops. Photographs of the inside of the eye may be taken using a special camera that flashes a bright light in the eye. A blood sample may be obtained to test for cholesterol level and genes related to inflammation....
The study design is a randomized intervention evaluation. Ten senior centers in predominately African American communities in the Birmingham, Alabama will be selected as sites for the educational intervention. Five centers will be randomly assigned to receive an educational intervention communicating practical information about vision, eye conditions and eye care as pertinent to the older African American population. The other five centers will serve as social-contact controls, where participants will receive an engaging information session on a non-health related topic. The primary outcome of interest is the change in percentage of persons receiving comprehensive eye care from pre- to post- intervention. The secondary outcomes are the process outcomes of improvement in knowledge, attitudes, and values about vision, eye conditions, and eye care.
We propose to investigate the response to Restasis, over a prolonged period of time in heavy computer users with dry eye disease.
This study will evaluate potential candidates for future clinical research studies related to diagnosed or undiagnosed genetic eye disorders or diseases. It will not test any new treatments, but it may arrange for standard treatments for existing eye disorders. The purpose of the study is to train eye doctors and medical researchers at the National Institutes of Health in appropriate methods and procedures for treating patients with genetic eye diseases, and to expand the pool of possible participants for future research studies and trials on eye health. Volunteers for this study may be adults and minor children who have been diagnosed with or are at risk for having a genetic eye disease. Candidates may not have any other medical conditions that would interfere with the researchers' ability to perform the examinations and procedures required for this study. Participants will give a complete medical and family history and undergo a series of tests and procedures as part of this research study. The procedures include a full eye examination and vision testing, electrooculography and an electroretinogram to examine the function of the retina, and flourescein angiography to provide information on the flow of blood in the participant's eyes. Participants will provide research material for further studies by giving a blood sample to be held for genetic testing and analysis, and adult participants will also undergo a skin biopsy to provide cell tissue for additional research material. At each clinic visit, participants will receive treatment for their genetic eye disease as needed, including medications or surgical procedures. Participants may remain a part of this study for up to three years.
The benefits of artificial tears to relieve dry eye symptoms include, but are not limited to: stabilizing the tear film layer, fluid supplement action, improving visual acuity, and comfort. Studies have found a relationship between some of these benefits. For example, stabilization of the tear film is important not only to increase the tear break up time (TBUT), but is key in improving and maintaining visual acuity. These studies have alluded to the fact that there may or may not be a relationship between residence time and visual performance. Viscosity is one reason behind the uncertainty. Some solutions contain polymers which influence the ocular surface when contacted. This can impact residence time and ultimately visual performance. No prior research has explored the direct relationship between residence time and visual performance. Residence time refers to the duration at which the artificial tear resides on the eye. Methods have been developed to assess residence time by admixing fluorescent tracers to the solution and then measuring the amount of fluorescence over time. The caveat to methods using certain tracers has lead to uncertainty in elimination measurements due to corneal penetration or differing molecular weights (MW) from the active vehicle ingredient in the solution. For example, low-MW tracers can be eliminated at a different rate than higher-MW polymers. In addition, the low-MW tracers may be able to penetrate the corneal epithelium giving a false pre-corneal residence time. Meadows, Paugh, Joshi, and Mordaunt addressed this issue by developing a technique using a polymer which did not penetrate the cornea and had the same MW as the active ingredient in the solution FITC-dextran. Based on the assumption that similar weights are eliminated at the same rate, this technique has shown to be more economic, manageable, and amendable than previous procedures measuring residence time. Any ophthalmic drop has the potential to impact visual acuity upon instillation due to the effect it has on the tear layer components. Studies have observed that taking artificial tears continuously over time tends to stabilize the tear layer thus minimizing the immediate drop in contrast sensitivity upon instillation. Measuring the visual effect of artificial tears, using contrast sensitivity as a measure, provides valuable information about the therapeutic effect of artificial tears that are meant to stabilize the tear film, thus improving visual acuity in dry eye patients. But what about the patient? There is a difference between residence time and retention of effect- which is often what matters the most for patients. Retention of effect refers to the beneficial effect of the drop. Currently there is no real measure of retention of effect. Doctors can assess the tear film objectively, but there have been no strong correlations between subjective dry symptoms and tear film stability. A possible reason for the lack of correlation may be due to the fact that subjectivity is difficult to quantify. However, scales like the Visual Analog Scale (VAS) and Numerical Rating Scale (NRS) have been established in an attempt to quantify subjective experiences such as visual quality. We will be using the NRS to gauge the comfort of the drop upon the initial application to get a general idea of the comfort the drop provides to the user. Although there have been several studies done on residence time and visual effect of ophthalmic formulations separately, there is no current research correlating these two aspects of therapeutic efficacy. This study will be the first to concurrently investigate residence time (using FITC-dextran) and visual effect of an ophthalmic formulation.
To compare bromfenac 0.09% and ketorolac 0.4% when used concomitantly with cyclosporine ophthalmic emulsion 0.05% in improving patient comfort during the induction phase of treatment for chronic dry eye disease
The significance of our study is in the importance of understanding the quality and quantity of proteins in the human tear film, and any unique aspects of tears in children. This pilot study will provide data to plan prospective research to better delineate the utility of tear proteins in diagnosing and following disease status in a non-invasive fashion.