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NCT Number: NCT02617966

Rod and Cone Mediated Function in Retinal Disease

Background:

Retinal diseases cause the loss of rod and cone photoreceptors. Symptoms include vision loss and night blindness. Researchers want to learn about rod and cone function in healthy people and people with retinal disease. They want to know if how well a person sees in the dark can test the severity of retinal disease.

Objectives:

To find out if how well a person sees in the dark can test the severity of retinal disease. To find out if this can help detect retinal disease and track its changes.

Eligibility:

People ages 5 and older with:

Retinal disease OR

20/20 vision or better with or without correction in at least one eye

Design:

Participants will be screened with medical and eye history and eye exam. Those with retinal disease will also have:

Eye imaging: Drops dilate the eye and pictures are taken of it.

Visual field testing: Participants look into a bowl and press a button when they see light.

Electroretinogram (ERG): An electrode is taped to the forehead. Participants sit in the

dark with their eyes patched for 30 minutes. Then they get numbing drops and contact

lenses. Participants watch lights while retina signals are recorded.

Visit 1 will be 3-8 hours. Participants will have up to 6 more visits over 6-12 months. Visits include:

Eye exam and imaging

Time course of dark adaptation: Participants view a background light for 5 minutes then

push a button when they see colored light.

Dark adapted sensitivity: Participants sit in the dark for 45 minutes. They push a button when

they see colored light.

For participants with retinal disease, ERG and visual field testing

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Key information

Conditions

Retinal Degeneration Congenital, Hereditary, and Neonatal Diseases and Abnormalities Eye Diseases Eye Diseases, Hereditary Genetic Diseases, Inborn Macular Degeneration Retinal Diseases Retinal Dystrophies Retinitis Pigmentosa Stargardt Disease Stargardt's Disease

Age range

5 year–100 year

Sex eligibility

All sexes

Study type

Observational

Primary location

National Institutes of Health Clinical Center

Bethesda, Maryland, 20892, United States

Location status: Recruiting

About this study

Objective: The objective of this protocol is to investigate local changes in rod and cone photoreceptor function across the retina in healthy volunteers and participants with retinal disease.

Study Population: Up to 250 healthy volunteers and 250 participants, age five or older, with retinal disease.

Design: This single-center, observational, case-control study will be comprised of three related Aims that assess rod and cone function with commercial perimeters and/or a commercial Cambridge Research Systems computer monitor (Display++) specialized for displaying stimuli at low light intensities. For Aim 1 the normal retinal sensitivity ranges will be established for both fundus-guided and non-guided perimeters. For Aim 2, the normal range for describing the kinetics of dark adaptation following bleaching of retinal rhodopsin will be established for the fundus-guided and non-guided perimeters. For Aim 3, local changes in rod and cone photoreceptor function across the retina in participants with retinal disease will be examined from measurement of the kinetics of dark adaptation, scotopic and photopic retinal sensitivity, and/or Radial Frequency (RF) hyperacuity on the Display++ monitor. Testing may also include patient reported outcome (PRO) questionnaires to assess vision problems under low luminance conditions.

Outcome Measures: The primary outcome for this study is to establish normal ranges for A) the kinetics of dark adaptation (time), B) retinal sensitivity (dB) for the fundus-guided and non-guided perimeters, and C) RF hyperacuity on the Display++ monitor. The secondary outcomes will be to examine changes in the kinetics of dark adaptation, scotopic and photopic retinal sensitivity, and/or RF hyperacuity in participants with retinal disease and potentially correlate these clinical measures with patients self-reported evaluation of their vision under low luminance conditions.

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: Yes

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

INCLUSION CRITERIA:
Participant must be five years of age or older.
Participant (or legal guardian) must understand and sign the protocol s informed consent document.
Participant must be able to cooperate with the testing required for this study.

For Participants with retinal disease only:

Participant must have retinal disease, defined as evidence of loss of retinal dysfunction and/or degeneration as established by standard clinical methods including perimetry, ERG and imaging.
Participant must have a measurable visual acuity.

For Healthy Volunteers only:

-Participant must have visual acuity of 20/20 or better, with or without correction (e.g., glasses or contact lens) in at least one eye.

Exclusion criteria

-Participant with changes in pre-retinal media sufficient to obscure a view of the retina.

Treatment and study plan

Primary outcomes

The primary outcomes for this study are to establish normal ranges for the kinetics of dark adaptation and dark-adapted retinal sensitivity for the fundus guided and non-guided perimeters and for RF hyperacuity on the Display++.

Time frame: ongoing, up to 10 visits in 5 years

The primary outcomes for this study are to establish normal ranges for the kinetics of dark adaptation and dark-adapted retinal sensitivity for the fundus guided and non-guided perimeters and for RF hyperacuity on the Display++.

Secondary outcomes

Secondary outcomes will be to examine changes in the kinetics of dark adaptation and dark-adapted retinal sensitivity, and scotopic and photopic RF hyperacuity in participants with retinal disease.

Time frame: ongoing, up to four visits in 5 years

Secondary outcomes will be to examine changes in the kinetics of dark adaptation and dark-adapted retinal sensitivity, and scotopic and photopic RF hyperacuity in participants with retinal disease.

Study contacts

Contact information is provided by the study sponsor or research team.

Brett G Jeffrey, Ph.D.

CONTACT

[email protected]

(301) 402-2391

Daniel W Claus, R.N.

CONTACT

[email protected]

(301) 451-1621

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

National Eye Institute (NEI)

Nih

Registry information

Important dates

Study start: 2016
Primary completion: 2029
Study completion: 2029
First posted: Dec 1, 2015
Registry last updated: Jul 28, 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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