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NCT Number: NCT07746167

Pupillary Dilation Reflex in Healthy Volunteers

This a single site, observational study that will examine how the pupil responds to neurostimulation under different conditions in healthy adults. The objective is to measure pupillary dilation reflex (PRD) in response to increasing neurostimulation intensities using the AlgometRx device.

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Key information

Age range

18 year–60 year

Sex eligibility

All sexes

Study type

Observational

Primary location

Children's National Hospital

Washington D.C., District of Columbia, 20010, United States

Location status: Recruiting

Location contact

Julia Finkel, MD

CONTACT

[email protected]

202-476-4867

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: Yes

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

Inclusion criteria

  • Age 18-60 years.
  • In good general health (self-reported).
  • Able and willing to provide written informed consent.

Exclusion criteria

  • Eye pathology that prevents accurate pupillometry.
  • Pregnancy (Self-Report)
  • Diagnosis of autoimmune disorders.
  • Diagnosis of any neuropathic disorder
  • Inability to complete questionnaires.

Treatment and study plan

No intervention (observational study)

Other

No intervention

Primary outcomes

  1. Pupillary Dilation Amplitude in Response to Increasing Neurostimulation Intensity Measured by AlgometRx Infrared Pupillometer

    Time frame: Day 1

    Pupillary dilation amplitude is defined as the maximum increase in pupil diameter from the pre-stimulus baseline, measured in millimeters (mm) using the AlgometRx infrared pupillometer. Pupil diameter is recorded before, during, and for 10 seconds following each 1-second stimulus. Amplitude is assessed at each stimulation intensity, beginning at 1.0 mA and increasing in 1 mA steps until participant perception, followed by measurements at 2 mA and 4 mA above the perception threshold, at each of three frequencies (5 Hz, 250 Hz, and 2000 Hz). Reported as the mean pupillary dilation amplitude in millimeters at each intensity and frequency combination.

Secondary outcomes

  1. Baseline Pupil Diameter Variability During the Pre-Stimulation Period Measured by AlgometRx Infrared Pupillometer

    Time frame: Day 1

    Variability of pupil diameter recorded by the AlgometRx infrared pupillometer during the pre-stimulation baseline period, while participants fixate on a visual marker in a quiet room under controlled lighting for up to 5 minutes. Variability is calculated as the standard deviation of pupil diameter, in millimeters (mm), across the final 30 seconds of the baseline recording. Reported as the mean standard deviation in millimeters.

  2. Area Under the Pupillary Dilation Curve (AUC) Measured by AlgometRx Infrared Pupillometer

    Time frame: Day 1

    Area under the curve (AUC) is calculated from the pupil diameter-time curve recorded over the 10-second period following each 1-second stimulus, using the AlgometRx infrared pupillometer, and is expressed in millimeter-seconds (mm*s). AUC is assessed at each stimulation intensity, beginning at 1.0 mA and increasing in 1 mA steps until participant perception, followed by measurements at 2 mA and 4 mA above the perception threshold, at each of three frequencies (5 Hz, 250 Hz, and 2000 Hz). Reported as the mean AUC in millimeter-seconds at each intensity and frequency combination.

  3. Difference in Pupillary Dilation Amplitude Between Ambient Lighting Conditions Measured by AlgometRx Infrared Pupillometer

    Time frame: Day 1

    Within-participant difference in pupillary dilation amplitude, measured in millimeters (mm) by the AlgometRx infrared pupillometer, between testing under approximately 100 lux and approximately 400 lux ambient lighting. Amplitude is defined as the maximum increase in pupil diameter from the pre-stimulus baseline. Reported as the mean within-participant difference in millimeters.

  4. Inter-Ocular Agreement in Pupillary Dilation Amplitude Measured by AlgometRx Binocular Handheld Attachment

    Time frame: Day 1

    Agreement between left-eye and right-eye pupillary dilation amplitude recorded simultaneously using the AlgometRx binocular handheld attachment under identical stimulation and lighting conditions. Amplitude is defined as the maximum increase in pupil diameter from the pre-stimulus baseline, measured in millimeters. Agreement is expressed as an intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) ranging from 0 to 1, where higher values indicate greater agreement between eyes. Reported as the ICC with a 95% confidence interval.

  5. Percentage of Participants With Successful Simultaneous Binocular Pupillary Recording Using the AlgometRx Binocular Handheld Attachment

    Time frame: Day 1

    The percentage of participants in whom the AlgometRx binocular handheld attachment successfully captures interpretable simultaneous pupillary recordings from both eyes. A recording is considered successful if both pupils are tracked continuously throughout the stimulus and post-stimulus recording period. Reported as the percentage of participants with successful binocular recording.

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

Children's National Research Institute

Other

Registry information

Official study title

The Relationship Between Neurostimulation Intensity and Pupillary Dilation Reflex (PRD) in Healthy Volunteers

Important dates

Study start
2026
Primary completion
2027
Study completion
2027
First posted
Aug 4, 2026
Registry last updated
Aug 4, 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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