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Enrolling by Invitation

NCT Number: NCT07425106

Comparative Study of High Performance Low-Cost Optical Coherence Tomography (Stage 1B, 2 and 3)

The purpose of this study is to complete performance testing of our custom optical coherence tomography (OCT) device to verify it can deliver retinal images of similar quality to a commercial OCT device. We will then add an angle-resolved low coherence interferometry (a/LCI module) to the device to make measurements of retinal tissue structure.

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Key information

Age range

18 year–85 year

Sex eligibility

All sexes

Study type

Interventional

Phase

Not applicable

Primary location

Duke University Medical Center

Durham, North Carolina, 27710, United States

About this study

There is some evidence that certain changes in retinal structures could be an indicator of Alzheimer's disease (AD). We are developing a new technology that combines optical coherence tomography (OCT) and angle-resolved low coherence interferometry (a/LCI) to make light scattering measurements of retinal tissue structure. The first objective of this study is to compare performance characteristics of our custom OCT instrument to a commercial OCT instrument. Once we have optimized our device, the second objective will be to use the custom OCT-a/LCI device to identify retinal structure changes that could be possible AD biomarkers.

For this study, the team will recruit volunteers to attend one study visit that is about 30 minutes long. For arm 1A (registered under NCT05530460), this visit will include examination with our custom OCT instrument, followed by examination with a commercial OCT system. For arms 1B and 2/3, the visit will include examination with the custom OCT-a/LCI instrument.

This study will recruit participants with Alzheimer's disease and healthy controls.

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: Yes

Only the study team can determine whether someone qualifies for participation.

All Participants:

Inclusion criteria

  • able to provide informed consent

Exclusion criteria

  • potentially confounding ocular conditions, such as: glaucoma, current corneal injury, retinal damage, diabetes, corrected distance visual acuity worse than 20/40
  • eyes that have had intraocular surgery or retinal surgery, other than cataract surgery

Participants with Alzheimer's Disease:

Inclusion:

  • mild cognitive impairment (MCI) or dementia due to Alzheimer's disease, confirmed by A/T/N classification

Healthy Controls:

Exclusion:

  • has a memory or other neurodegenerative diagnosis (including mild cognitive impairment, Parkinson's disease, Alzheimer's disease, traumatic brain injury, post-traumatic stress disorder)

If two eyes satisfy the inclusion / exclusion criteria, both eyes will be included in the study. If only one eye satisfies the criteria, only the qualifying eye will be included in the study.

Treatment and study plan

retinal imaging with low-cost OCT-a/LCI device

Device

retinal imaging with low-cost OCT-a/LCI device

Primary outcomes

  1. Number of Participants with Acceptable OCT Image Quality as Measured by Low-Cost OCT Device

    Time frame: during study procedures (30 minutes)

    measured by: ability to see clearly defined and recognizable structures of the retina with the low-cost OCT device.

  2. RNFL Thickness

    Time frame: during study procedures (30 minutes)

    Thickness of retinal nerve fiber layer, measured in microns

  3. GCL Thickness

    Time frame: during study procedures (30 minutes)

    Thickness of ganglion cell layer, measured in microns.

Secondary outcomes

  1. Contrast-to-Noise Ratio (CNR)

    Time frame: during study procedures (30 minutes)

    Measure of OCT image quality comparing level of image contrast to level of background noise. CNR = (mean of signal of region of interest [i.e., retina] - mean of background noise) divided by square root of (the square of the standard deviation of the region of interest + the square of the standard deviation of the background noise). Therefore, CNR is unitless.

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

Duke University

Other

Collaborators

  • National Institute on Aging (NIA)

Registry information

Official study title

Comparative Study of High Performance Low-Cost Optical Coherence Tomography

Important dates

Study start
2026
Primary completion
2027
Study completion
2027
First posted
Feb 20, 2026
Registry last updated
Feb 25, 2026

OpenTrials presents study information sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov. The official registry record should be consulted for the latest information.

View the official ClinicalTrials.gov record (opens in a new tab)

This listing is for discovery and informational purposes only. It is not medical advice, does not guarantee that a study is recruiting, and does not determine eligibility. Contact the study team and a qualified healthcare professional when considering participation.

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