Assessment of Retinal Blood Vessels Using Optical Coherence Tomography in Health, Hypertension, and Chronic Kidney Disease

What this Trial Is About

Researchers are evaluating whether optical coherence tomography (OCT), a simple and non-invasive imaging method of the eye's blood vessels, can detect changes in patients with high blood pressure (hypertension) and chronic kidney disease (CKD) compared to healthy individuals. The study aims to understand if these changes in blood vessels improve with treatment. This exploratory study focuses on the structure and function of blood vessels, which are linked to increased risks of heart disease and strokes in these patients. The study involves examining the choroidal and microvascular retinal structures using enhanced depth imaging with the SPECTRALIS OCT device. Participants include patients with treated hypertension, those pre- and post-haemodialysis, healthy volunteers, patients with pre-dialysis CKD or a functional renal transplant, and untreated individuals. The imaging takes only a few seconds and is conducted at the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh outpatient clinics. During the study, participants will undergo OCT imaging to assess choroidal and retinal morphology as the primary outcome within 2 weeks. Neuro-retinal metrics will also be measured as secondary outcomes. The study is observational, non-invasive, and designed to capture detailed images easily. Participants may include healthy volunteers and patients aged 18 to 80 years, with monitoring focusing on retinal vasculature and its relation to hypertension and CKD.

Optical Coherence Tomography And NEphropathy: The OCTANE Study