Investigation of Neurovascular Coupling in Glaucoma Patients and Healthy Subjects

Launched by MEDICAL UNIVERSITY OF VIENNA · Mar 8, 2019

Keywords

ClinConnect Summary

This clinical trial is investigating how the blood flow in the retina responds to nerve activity in patients with glaucoma and in healthy individuals. Glaucoma is a condition that damages the optic nerve and can lead to vision loss, often associated with high eye pressure. However, some patients continue to experience vision problems even when their eye pressure is controlled. The researchers are looking to understand if there are changes in blood flow in the retina that could help protect nerve cells, regardless of eye pressure levels. By using a special non-invasive imaging technique, they will measure both blood flow and nerve function in the retina during certain visual tests.

To participate in the study, individuals between the ages of 65 and 74 who have been diagnosed with primary open-angle glaucoma, normal tension glaucoma, or ocular hypertension may be eligible. Healthy individuals with normal eye pressure are also invited to join as a control group. Participants will undergo a series of tests to evaluate their eye health and blood flow in the retina. It’s important for potential participants to be in good overall health and not have certain medical conditions or recent surgeries. This research could lead to better understanding and treatment options for glaucoma, helping to preserve vision for many patients.

Gender

ALL

Eligibility criteria

• • Inclusion criteria
• • Patients with primary open angle glaucoma
• • Diagnosis of manifest primary open angle glaucoma defined as pathological optic disc appearance
• • Glaucoma hemifield test outside normal limits
• • Untreated IOP ≥ 21 mmHg on at least three measurements in the medical history
• • Mean deviation in the visual field test is less than or equal 10dB (for one group) OR more than 10dB (for the other group)
• • Patients with normal tension glaucoma
• • Diagnosis of manifest normal tension glaucoma defined as pathological optic disc appearance
• • Glaucoma hemifield test outside normal limits
• • No evidence of untreated IOP \> 20 mmHg in the medical history
• • Mean deviation in the visual field is less than or equal 10dB (for one group) OR more than 10dB (for the other group)
• • Patients with ocular hypertension
• • Normal ophthalmic findings except presence of ocular hypertension defined as untreated IOP ≥ 21 mmHg on at least three measurements in the medical history
• • No signs of glaucomatous damage in the optic disc
• • or the glaucoma hemifield test
• • Healthy control subjects
• • Normal ophthalmic findings
• • IOP \< 20 mmHg on least three measurements
• • No evidence of increased IOP in the medical history
• • No signs of glaucomatous damage in the optic disc
• • or the glaucoma hemifield test
• • Exclusion criteria
• • History of a severe medical condition as judged by the clinical investigator
• • Abuse of alcoholic beverages
• • Smoker
• • Participation in a clinical trial in the 3 weeks preceding the study
• • Exfoliation glaucoma, pigmentary glaucoma, history of acute angle closure
• • Intraocular surgery within the last 6 months
• • Ocular inflammation or infection within the last 3 months
• • History of epilepsia
• • Diabetes mellitus
• • Untreated hypertension with systolic blood pressure \> 160 mmHg, diastolic blood pressure \> 95 mmHg
• • Pregnancy
• • Planned pregnancy or lactating