Retinal Vein Occlusion

Researchers are evaluating the first use of a new imaging technology called 4D Microscope Integrated Optical Coherence Tomography 4D MIOCT combined with a Zeiss Artevo 800 surgical microscope during eye surgeries. This study focuses on adult patients undergoing clinically indicated surgery for various eye diseases, aiming to assess how easy the system is to use, its safety, and how well it visualizes the eyes structures during both front and back segment procedures. The study involves using the investigational 4D MIOCT device integrated into the Zeiss Artevo 800 microscope to capture detailed images of the eye during surgery. This imaging is performed in the operating room as part of the standard surgical care, with no additional treatment or interventions added. Up to eight patients may be enrolled, and images will be taken of one or both eyes during surgery to observe normal and abnormal microanatomy, as well as track any injections under the retina. Participants will have their eye imaged during surgery, and researchers will collect related clinical data and previous eye care records for comparison. The images and data will be analyzed after surgery to explore new details captured by the 4D MIOCT system. Researchers will measure ease of use, surgical workflow impact, and the presence of normal and abnormal microanatomy based on the images. There is no extra risk beyond the usual surgery, and no new medications or procedures will be performed solely for research purposes.

Diabetic Macular Edema DME is a complication of diabetes that causes swelling in the central part of the retina, leading to vision loss. This condition results from changes in the small blood vessels of the retina, causing leakage and retinal thickening, often linked to increased levels of vascular endothelial growth factor VEGF. DME is a common cause of blindness in people with diabetes, and it is especially significant in Bangladesh due to the high number of adults living with diabetes. This study compares the effectiveness and safety of two treatments for DME a proposed biosimilar of Ranibizumab and Lucentis, both given as 0.5 mg injections into the eye every four weeks. A total of 70 adults with DME will be randomly assigned to receive one of these treatments in three doses over eight weeks. Safety visits will occur 48 hours after each injection, and the study concludes with an evaluation visit at week 12. Participants will undergo vision tests and imaging of the retina at the start and end of the study to measure changes in visual acuity and retinal thickness. Safety will be monitored throughout with follow-up visits shortly after each injection. Researchers will track how many patients maintain or improve their vision and assess any side effects. The total participation time for each patient is approximately 12 weeks.

Researchers are studying adaptive optics, a new imaging method, to improve the way retinal diseases are diagnosed, treated, and managed. This observational study includes 350 participants with various eye diseases and 250 healthy volunteers aged 12 and older. The goal is to better detect retinal problems earlier than current methods allow, by comparing images from normal and diseased eyes. Participants will undergo comprehensive eye exams including visual acuity, intraocular pressure checks, pupil dilation, and adaptive optics imaging using specialized instruments at the National Eye Institute Eye Clinic. Additional tests may include perimetry, color vision tests, and electroretinograms involving numbing eye drops and special contact lenses. Imaging and assessments will be repeated as needed during one or more study visits. During their visits, participants will provide medical and eye history, answer questions about medications, and have their pupils dilated for imaging. Adaptive optics imaging requires participants to look steadily into an instrument while images of their retina are captured. Researchers will analyze these images qualitatively and quantitatively to compare healthy and diseased eyes. The study will last up to five years, with ongoing monitoring of image quality and retinal health.

Researchers are evaluating a new handheld optical coherence tomography OCT device designed to automatically align with the eye to capture detailed retinal images. This pilot study aims to assess this advanced imaging technology in healthy adult volunteers, adult patients, and pediatric patients with eye and retinal diseases, addressing current challenges in imaging uncooperative patients, especially children. The study is observational and led by Duke University, focusing on improving imaging speed, alignment, and data quality for retinal assessment. The study uses a Swept Source OCT system with enhanced hand-held probe technology that auto-aligns to the patients eye and detects image quality in real time, automatically saving optimal images. Participants include 20 healthy adults, 20 adult patients, and 10 pediatric patients from ophthalmology clinics. Imaging will be performed during clinical visits, with up to four single imaging sessions over two years to capture detailed retinal structure and blood flow. Participants will undergo retinal imaging using the handheld OCT device during their clinical visits. Researchers will analyze images for retinal microanatomy abnormalities and retinal thickness at specific eye regions, collecting data securely for further analysis. The study will monitor outcomes over multiple sessions for up to two years, with no known risks reported from prior handheld OCT use. The total participation duration depends on the number of imaging sessions completed within the study timeframe.

Age-related macular degeneration AMD and diabetic retinopathy are common causes of visual disability in older adults. Neovascular AMD nAMD leads to early loss of central vision. This research evaluates the effects of switching from ranibizumab to aflibercept treatment in eyes with treatment naive, recurrent, or persistent nAMD, as well as diabetic retinopathy cases. The study includes patients previously treated with ranibizumab for up to one year and aims to understand the visual and anatomical changes after this switch. Participants will receive aflibercept therapy, and the study observes patients monthly over 12 months. The trial includes groups such as AMD patients previously treated with Lucentis ranibizumab, treatment naive AMD patients, diabetic macular edema DME patients previously treated with ranibizumab, and treatment naive DME patients. The focus is on monitoring responses to aflibercept in these different patient groups. Throughout the study, participants will undergo comprehensive eye exams including best-corrected visual acuity BCVA tests, reading performance, standard ophthalmic checks, optical coherence tomography OCT, fundus imaging, fluorescein and indocyanine green angiography, microperimetry, and OCT-based optical angiography. Researchers will measure changes in vision and macular anatomy over a year. The study also tracks retreatments and requires patients to attend regular monthly visits for monitoring and assessments.

Researchers are evaluating whether an ambulatory stroke unit model aSU is not worse than conventional inpatient stroke unit care SU for patients aged 60 years or older who have had an acute ischemic stroke, transient ischemic attack TIA, or retinal ischemia with mild or no lasting neurological problems. This study aims to see if outpatient care can be a medically safe and resource-efficient alternative to hospital care in managing these types of strokes in older adults, with attention to clinical outcomes, patient quality of life, and health care use. Participants are randomly assigned to one of two groups. One group receives ambulatory stroke unit care involving a comprehensive same-day multiprofessional assessment, diagnostic evaluation, and start of secondary prevention treatments, followed by discharge home if stable. The other group receives standard inpatient stroke unit care with hospital admission, monitoring, and diagnostics according to clinical guidelines. The main comparison is based on patients functional outcome 90 days after treatment. During the 90-day study period, researchers evaluate functional status using the modified Rankin Scale, monitor for early neurological worsening, recurrent strokes, delirium, mortality, and serious adverse events. They also assess health-related quality of life, mobility, stroke impact, healthcare use, and treatment costs. Outcome assessments are done by blinded evaluators, and some measurements continue up to 12 months. The study explores the feasibility and acceptance of ambulatory stroke care to inform future health service planning.

Phacoemulsification is a common cataract surgery performed under topical anesthesia, which is generally safe but can cause pain, anxiety, and discomfort for some patients. This research evaluates the effect of oral anti-anxiety medication, specifically Alprazolam, on improving patient satisfaction during second eye cataract surgery. The study aims to clarify whether oral sedation can reduce pain, anxiety, and side effects like nausea and dizziness compared to no sedation during phacoemulsification. Patients will receive either a single oral dose of Alprazolam or a placebo tablet 30 minutes before surgery. The dose of Alprazolam is 0.5 mg for most patients, with a reduced 0.25 mg dose for those over 65 years or with liver disease. The study compares these groups to assess how oral sedation affects anxiety, pain, and surgical satisfaction. This is an extension study involving patients undergoing surgery on their second eye with topical anesthesia. During the trial, participants will complete questionnaires assessing pain, anxiety, and overall satisfaction before and after surgery. Researchers will monitor intraoperative discomfort and postoperative anxiety levels. Data from approximately 250 patients will be collected and analyzed for these outcomes. This study runs from March 2025 to December 2027, focusing on improving cataract surgery experiences safely and conveniently.

Researchers are developing and managing the AnovaOS Network Powered Patient Registry to collect real-world patient data across various diseases globally. This registry aims to capture meaningful clinical information on diagnosis, infection course, treatments, and outcomes to enhance understanding and support future clinical trials and observational studies. The registry serves as a resource to better understand, prevent, diagnose, and treat diverse health conditions. Participants data will be gathered through this registry, which can also be used to recruit individuals for clinical trials and observational studies on promising therapies. The registry collects ongoing information on patients health status and treatments, enabling long-term monitoring and analysis. This observational study does not involve administering treatments but focuses on data collection and management. Participants will provide information through questionnaires or instruments, either personally or via an informed proxy, with an expected follow-up once per year. The research team will assess natural history, clinical effectiveness, safety, and quality of care over a period of five years. The registry includes patients with a wide range of conditions, and participation requires informed consent and the ability to complete follow-up data collection.

Researchers are evaluating the use of arterial spin labeling ASL, a non-invasive MRI technique, to measure blood flow in the retinal tissue and the human eye. This study focuses on testing the precision and specificity of the MRI protocol for accurately measuring regional blood flow rBF and cerebral blood flow cBF without the need for contrast injections. The study includes both healthy volunteers and patients with retinal diseases such as thyroid associated orbitopathy TAO, inflammatory optic neuropathy ION, and ischemic optic neuropathy. Participants will undergo an MRI scan using the ASL technique as described in the study protocol. The study groups include healthy volunteers with normal vision, chronic patients with decreased visual acuity from the specified diseases, and patients in the acute phase of these diseases who will be examined again in the chronic phase. The study is non-randomized and does not involve masking or placebo controls. During the study, participants will have MRI assessments to measure blood perfusion in the retina at various time points, including repeatability measurements in volunteers over 2 months and perfusion measurements in patients during acute and chronic phases over 4 years. Researchers will monitor the safety and tolerability of the MRI procedure and observe changes in retinal blood flow. Participation involves following the study protocol and signing informed consent, with ongoing evaluation of retinal perfusion as the primary outcome.

Researchers are studying the community of microbial organisms living on the surface of the eye, known as the ocular microbiome, to understand its role in eye health and disease. This observational study aims to identify the normal bacteria present, factors that encourage their growth, and how these microbes may protect against or contribute to eye conditions. The study responds to the need for a comprehensive database describing the ocular microbiome in a healthy population. Participants will be grouped based on their eye health status, including those with normal eyes, mild glaucoma, non-infectious keratopathy, dry and wet age-related macular degeneration, and diabetic retinopathy. The study involves collecting samples through simple swabs of both eyes to analyze microbial DNA and other components using advanced sequencing methods over a three-year period. During the study, participants will undergo regular collection of eye swab samples and associated clinical data such as demographic information, medications, and allergies. Researchers will track changes in the ocular microbiome and assess its composition and function using advanced genetic sequencing techniques. The primary outcome is to define the normal ocular microbiome, with secondary outcomes focusing on sequencing methods. Participation includes follow-up visits over several years to monitor these factors.