View clinical trials related to Eye Diseases.
Filter by:The use of vitamin E, vitamin C, beta carotene, and/or multivitamins may keep cancer, cardiovascular disease, eye diseases, or cognitive decline from occurring. This randomized clinical trial studied vitamin E, vitamin C, beta carotene, and/or multivitamins to see how well they work compared with placebos in preventing cancer, cardiovascular disease, eye disease, and cognitive decline in male doctors aged 50 years and older.
The purpose of this study is to provide compassionate use of anecortave acetate sterile suspension of 15 mg for a series of five patients as a means to control pseudovitelliform detachment.
The exact mechanism of the pathogenesis of Graves’ ophthalmopathy is still unknown. Histopathologically, extraocular muscle inflammation and orbital fat inflammation are two prominent changes. In the past year, we had investigated the morphological features of the Müller muscle in patients with thyroid lid retraction using the special stain and immunohistochemistry. In our findings, the smooth muscle cells, in the diseased group, were replaced by variable adipose and fibrosis tissues. In recent years, TSHR, has been verified to express in orbital connective tissue and extra-ocular muscle. From functional studies and an increase in adipogenesis in cultured fibroblasts with expression of TSHR protein, the role not only the target but effector cells in orbital fibroblasts were validated. Quantitative RT-PCR may help to differentiate whether a less extent of expression at the end stage or low protein amount to be detected. In recent years, the diverse phenotypes of orbital fibroblasts, with regard to expression of Thy-1 protein or not, had been reported from several studies, the investigators believed heterogeneity in orbital fibroblast may determine the clinical presentation of Graves’ophthalmopathy. We also are curious to know if the phenotypic heterogeneity of the fibroblasts in the ocular adnexal and orbital tissues correlates to distinct morphological features of adipogenesis and fibrosis. Moreover, increased CD40 expression in skin fibroblasts were noted from patients with systemic sclerosis. Expression of IGF-I and IGF-IR seemed to be up-regulated in processes of several fibrotic diseases. A nuclear transcription factor, PPAR-γ, has been verified to have a close relationship with adipogenesis. We hypothesize that some immunological processes involve the ocular adnexal and orbital tissues, which result in various ophthalmological manifestations. The purpose of this study is to investigate the different stage of the ocular adnexal and orbital tissues to identify the pathogenesis of Graves' ophthalmopathy by frozen sections with Immunohistochemistry, mRNA expression of TSH receptor, PPAR-γ, IGF-1R, and IGF-1 and different cytokines using quantitative RT-PCR and flow cytometry at the acute and stable stage in GO.
Aim: In a phase II pilot study encompassing 20 patients with Graves’ disease to evaluate the effect of rituximab: 1. Biochemically as assessed by markers of disease activity ( free T4, free T3, TSH, TSH-receptor antibodies, anti-TPO)
The purpose of this trial is to evaluate the safety and preliminary efficacy of different doses and several exposure times of intravitreal microplasmin in the setting of pars plana vitrectomy for vitreomacular traction maculopathy.
The purpose of this study is to compare the efficacy on pupillary dilation between the single dose versus the three doses of 1% tropicamide with 10% phenylephrine for complete ocular examination.
This study will evaluate whether therapy that suppresses the immune system given to treat inflammatory diseases of the eye is associated with a greater risk of death and of cancer. Inflammatory diseases of the eye, including uveitis, scleritis, and mucous membrane pemphigoid, are major blinding diseases. For some patients, treatment with corticosteroids is not enough to control the diseases. Researchers expect to gain information about whether immunosuppressive therapy is suitable for patients and which substances should be avoided. Also, the study will evaluate the frequency of short-term complications with immunosuppressive therapy as well as benefits that the therapy can bring to treatment of eye diseases. The medical charts of patients up to age 65 (median age range of 21 to 65) who have had an inflammatory, noninfectious eye disease may be examined for this study. A database will be constructed through a chart review of patients seen in the uveitis clinic of the National Eye Institute since 1977 and three other sites. Patients who are considered exposed to immunosuppressive therapies will be compared with two groups: the general U.S. population and an internal group of patients with the same inflammatory eye diseases who did not receive immunosuppression. Data regarding about 10,000 to 15,000 patients will be collected. Patients will not be identified by the chart reviews. The incidence of cancer will be examined as well as the outcomes of immosuppressive therapy as measured by control of the eye disease, visual sharpness, changes in the use of corticosteroids, and rates of remission-when disease symptoms are lessened. Also examined will be medical charts of a control group of patients who did not receive immunosuppressive therapy for their uveitis. Data on cancer incidence would be more difficult to obtain, requiring personal contact with patients. In such situations, patients will be contacted by phone or mail, and those providing informed consent will be asked about their medical history, including previous occurrence of cancer and other conditions. For patients who have died, the researchers will attempt to communicate with the next of kin regarding this medical information.
This study will examine the extent of the vision problem in familial exudative vitreoretinopathy (FEVR) and try to identify the genes responsible for this hereditary eye disorder. Patients with FEVR have incomplete formation of blood vessels in the periphery of the retina (the inner part of the eye that is responsible for vision). As a result, abnormal vessels can form and retinal detachment and vitreous bleeding can occur, causing significant vision loss. Vision loss usually begins in childhood, gradually worsening over time. Some patients eventually become blind. Patients of all ages with FEVR and their family members may be eligible for this study. Participants undergo the following tests and procedures: - Family history, especially regarding eye disease. A family tree is drawn. - Blood draw for genetic testing related to FEVR. - Eye examination to assess visual acuity (eye chart test) and eye pressure, and to examine pupils, lens, retina and eye movements. The pupils are dilated with drops for this examination. - Fluorescein angiography to evaluate the eye's blood vessels. A yellow dye is injected into an arm vein and travels to the blood vessels in the eyes. Pictures of the retina are taken 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. - Patients affected with FEVR will also undergo DEXA scan to look for osteoporosis. X-rays are used to scan the hip, forearm and spine for bone density measurements.
This study will identify patients with anterior segment disease who may be eligible to participate in current or future NEI studies on this disease. Anterior segment disease includes all disorders that affect the eye surface, anterior chamber, iris and ciliary body and lens of the eye. The eye surface is composed of the cornea, conjunctiva, eyelids, lacrimal and meibomian glands, and the interconnecting nerves. Patients of any age with anterior segment disease may be eligible for this screening study. Participants will be evaluated with some or all of the following tests and procedures, depending on the nature of their eye problem: - Medical history and brief physical examination. - Eye examination, including measurement of visual acuity (eye chart) and eye pressure, examination of the pupils, eye movements, structures in the front of the eye (cornea, conjunctive, etc.), the lens, and the structures in the back of the eye (retinal, optic nerve, etc.). - Photographs of the eye to help assess the status of the cornea and conjunctive and to evaluate any changes that may occur in the future. - Assessment of tear and surface status. The amount of tears the eyes can produce is measured by placing a small piece of sterile paper in the corner of the eye every 5 minutes. Special orange and green dyes are placed in the eyes to determine the health status of the surface of the eye. - Corneal or conjunctival biopsy. A small tissue sample from the surface of the eye may be removed for laboratory examination to help diagnose a condition that is unclear. For this procedure, the eye is numbed with anesthetic eye drops. The required tissue is collected, an antibiotic ointment is placed in the eye to prevent infection, and a patch may be placed over the eye for 12 to 24 hours. - Blood draw for tests to study the cause of the patient's eye disease. - Other diagnostic tests as needed. - DNA testing to look for a genetic pattern associated with the patient's eye disease. Patients who are found eligible for an NEI study will be offered participation in that study. Patients who are not eligible for current studies will be advised about treatment options.
This study will evaluate a system developed to grade the severity of age-related cataract, a common cause of vision loss in older adults. Cataract research requires methods to simply and accurately determine the type and severity of cataracts in order to develop new, possibly non-surgical, treatments. Patients 50 years of age and older with one of the three major age-related cataract types (nuclear, cortical, and posterior subcapsular) may be eligible for this study. Participants will be recruited from among patients enrolled in other National Eye Institute protocols. Participants will have their eyes examined independently by two ophthalmologists with a biomicroscope, a magnifying device routinely used during eye examinations. The doctors will use the new grading system to record if a cataract is present, and if so, how severe it is. The examination includes measurement of visual acuity (vision chart test) and examination of the lens, retina, pupils and eye movements. Photographs of the eye will be taken using a special camera that flashes a bright light in the eye.