Dynamic Light Scattering and Keratoscopy for Corneal Examination

Sponsor
National Eye Institute (NEI) (NIH)
Overall Status
Completed
CT.gov ID
NCT00050466
Collaborator
(none)
24
1
33
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Study Details

Study Description

Brief Summary

This pilot study will examine the usefulness of a new instrument called the Dynamic Light Scattering (DLS) device for documenting and monitoring changes in the cornea, the front part of the eye where contact lenses are placed. The DLS device uses a low-intensity laser similar to that used in supermarket checkouts to measure the cloudiness of the cornea. The results of this study may lead to further investigations using DLS to discover the cause of corneal clouding and to develop treatments to prevent it.

Healthy volunteers and patients with corneal clouding or opacification 18 years of age and older may be eligible for this study.

Participants will have a standard eye examination, including a check of visual acuity and eye pressure. The retina will also be examined and photographs of the cornea may be taken. For the DLS test, the subject sits in front of the device and looks at a yellow-green target while the cloudiness of the cornea is measured. Subjects will be tested four times. The entire procedure takes less than 30 minutes.

Condition or Disease Intervention/Treatment Phase

    Detailed Description

    Corneal disease and injuries are the leading cause of visits to eye care clinics in the US today. These diseases are also some of the most painful eye disorders. Two important areas for research on the cornea are 1) to explore and understand the molecular basis of corneal transparency and 2) to analyze the molecular nature of corneal inflammation and wound healing. We have developed a new clinical device to understand molecular changes that occur in the lens, called Dynamic Light Scattering (DLS) device. Studies have shown its potential in the detection of the earliest changes occurring in the cataract, and have also shown good test retest reproducibility of the system. We now would like to apply this technique to study changes that occur in corneal opacification. In this pilot project, we would like to study the normal cornea in young and older persons (volunteers) as well as cloudy, opaque corneas. This will allow us to determine if useful data can be obtained, and if so, lead to further studies in various corneal disorders caused by trauma, infections, and dystrophies, as well as those caused by systemic or inherited disorders.

    Study Design

    Study Type:
    Observational
    Official Title:
    A Pilot Study Using the Dynamic Light Scattering Device (DLS) Combined With Keratoscopy on the Cornea in Vivo
    Study Start Date :
    Dec 1, 2002
    Study Completion Date :
    Sep 1, 2005

    Outcome Measures

    Primary Outcome Measures

      Eligibility Criteria

      Criteria

      Ages Eligible for Study:
      N/A and Older
      Sexes Eligible for Study:
      All
      Accepts Healthy Volunteers:
      Yes
      INCLUSION CRITERIA:

      Individuals greater than or equal to 18 years of age.

      Controls:

      Control subjects must have normal, clear corneas as determined by slit lamp biomicroscopy and central corneal thickness less than 0.55 mm centrally.

      Patients:

      Patients with corneal clouding and opacification.

      EXCLUSION CRITERIA:
      To be eligible, participants must not satisfy the criterion below:

      Individuals who cannot cooperate or keep still for the DLS measurements.

      Contacts and Locations

      Locations

      Site City State Country Postal Code
      1 National Eye Institute (NEI) Bethesda Maryland United States 20892

      Sponsors and Collaborators

      • National Eye Institute (NEI)

      Investigators

      None specified.

      Study Documents (Full-Text)

      None provided.

      More Information

      Publications

      Responsible Party:
      , ,
      ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier:
      NCT00050466
      Other Study ID Numbers:
      • 030012
      • 03-EI-0012
      First Posted:
      Dec 10, 2002
      Last Update Posted:
      Mar 4, 2008
      Last Verified:
      Sep 1, 2005

      Study Results

      No Results Posted as of Mar 4, 2008