View clinical trials related to Retina.
Filter by:Glaucoma is one of the most common causes of blindness in the industrialized nations. For a long time glaucoma has been defined as a disease in which high intraocular pressure (IOP) leads to irreversible optic disc damage and subsequent visual field loss. However, recent investigations show that IOP is not the only factor that is involved in the glaucomatous process leading to retinal ganglion cell death. The role of vascular factors in the pathogenesis of glaucoma has recently received much attention based on animal experiments and epidemiological studies. The main focus of glaucoma is still directed towards a decrease in IOP. There is, however, also considerable interest whether antiglaucoma drugs influence ocular perfusion. Although measurement of ocular blood flow is still difficult, a number of innovative techniques have been realized which cover different aspects of ocular perfusion. In the present study Xalacom® (latanoprost/timolol) and the fixed combination of Combigan® (brimonidine/timolol) will be compared with respect to their IOP lowering efficacy as well as their ocular hemodynamic effects.
Idiopathic Macular Telangiectasia is characterized by incompetent and dilated retinal capillaries in the foveolar region of unknown cause for retinal telangiectasia. In Idiopathic Macular Telangiectasia, proliferative changes occur in the deep retinal capillary network, leading to intraretinal neovascularization that, unlike in age-related macular degeneration, seems to be retinal rather than choroidal in origin. Before the hemorrhagic and fibrotic state, these vessels may lead to exudation and decrease in the visual acuity. Long-term visual prognosis in patients with this complication may be poor and treatment with laser photocoagulation is unproven. Although newly reported treatment, by photodynamic therapy for neovascular membrane associated with Idiopathic Macular Telangiectasia, may show vision and angiographic stability in a few cases, the improvement may be transient. VEGF has been implicated as the major angiogenic stimulus responsible for neovascularization in AMD, ensuing specific anti-VEGF treatment in these cases. The purpose of the study is to evaluate intravitreal injection of bevacizumab (1.25mg/0.05ml) in the treatment of Idiopathic Macular Telangiectasia.
Habitual smoking is associated with an increased risk of coronary artery disease, cerebral and peripheral vascular disease, including ocular diseases like age-related macular degeneration or diabetic retinopathy. Data of a recent study performed in the investigators lab revealed abnormal choroidal blood flow regulation in chronic smokers as compared to age-matched non-smoking subjects during isometric exercise. However, no information is yet available about the regulation of retinal vascular tone in habitual smokers. Thus, in the current study, the investigators set out to investigate whether the regulation of retinal vessels diameters is affected in habitual smokers. It has been shown in several reports that stimulation with diffuse luminance flicker, increases retinal arterial and venous diameters, indicating for the ability of the retina to adapt to changing metabolic demands. In the current study we use this effect as a tool to investigate whether the flicker induced vasodilatation is affected in habitual smokers. This would indicate for an impaired vascular regulation process in smokers.
Oxidative stress, which refers to cellular damage caused by reactive oxygen intermediates, has been implicated in many disease processes, especially age-related disorders. Many trials investigating use of antioxidants in protecting different tissues against oxidative stress have been conducted, but the results are ambiguous. Inflammation is generally associated with enhanced oxidative stress and widespread endothelial dysfunction. In the present study, the infusion of LPS, which is a cell wall component of Gram-negative bacteria and a major mediator in the pathogenesis of septic shock, will be used as a standardized experimental model of systemic inflammatory response in humans. The assessment of outcome parameters will include measurements of ocular blood flow, forearm blood flow and plasma concentration of cytokines. Measurements of ocular hemodynamics provide an unique chance to investigate local blood flow in humans non-invasively. Moreover, the retina is especially susceptible to oxidative stress because of its high consumption of oxygen, its high polyunsaturated fatty acid content, and its exposure to visible light. Evidence from literature clearly supports a role for oxidative stress in pathophysiology of several ocular diseases including diabetic retinopathy and age-related macular degeneration. To investigate the retinal vascular reactivity we will use systemic hyperoxia as a stimulus. The measurement of forearm blood flow will be use to assess endothelial function. The main study objective is to investigate the effect of oral vitamins and minerals supplementation on impaired retinal vascular reactivity after LPS administration.
Ocular lesions, including cotton wool spots and retinal hemorrhage, are a common feature of HIV infection and acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS). The aetiology of these apparently vasoocclusive phenomena in HIV related retinopathy is not well understood. Several hypotheses including infectious damage of the retinal vasculature and altered retinal hemodynamics have been postulated. The latter would be compatible with the theory that the retina of HIV patients is hypoxic. However, direct measurement of oxygen tension in the retina is not possible and indirect methods have to be employed. The study objective was to investigate the reactivity in retinal blood flow to 100% oxygen breathing in patients with HIV.