Microperimetry Changes in Retinal Function in Macular Disorders
This study aims to understand how well the central part of your eye, called the macula, sees light in people with conditions like Dry AMD and Diabetic Retinopathy. The macula is key for clear, detailed vision. We'll use a special test called MAIA microperimetry to measure how sensitive your macula is to light and how steadily your eye can focus. This test isn't common in the NHS yet, but we believe it could show early signs of eye disease before you notice any blurry vision. By comparing these measurements with other eye scans, we hope to improve our understanding of these common eye diseases. This could help doctors spot problems sooner and, in the future, lead to better treatments for vision loss.
At a glance
What is this study about?
Imagine your eye as a camera, and the retina is the film at the back that captures images. Right in the middle of this film is a very important spot called the macula. This macula is responsible for your sharp, detailed vision, like when you read a book or recognise a face. Diseases affecting the macula can make it harder to see clearly.
This study is focused on two common eye conditions that affect the macula: Dry Age-related Macular Degeneration (AMD) and Diabetic Retinopathy. Dry AMD gradually wears out the light-sensing cells in the macula, making fine details harder to see. Diabetic Retinopathy happens when diabetes damages the tiny blood vessels in your retina; sometimes these vessels leak, causing swelling (Diabetic Macular Oedema) which can reduce vision. We want to measure changes in how well your macula is working before noticeable vision loss occurs. Think of it as looking for early warning signs.
To do this, we'll be using a special, gentle eye test called MAIA microperimetry. This test measures how sensitive different parts of your macula are to light and how steadily your eye can focus. We believe these measurements can give us a clearer picture of your eye health than standard eye charts, and might even pick up problems earlier. We'll also compare these results with detailed pictures of your macula taken by other machines regularly used in eye clinics. By doing this, we hope to learn more about these conditions and potentially help develop better ways to detect and care for them in the future.
Key takeaways
- Aims to understand how central vision (macula) is affected by specific eye diseases.
- Uses a special test (MAIA microperimetry) to find early changes in vision.
- Focuses on Dry AMD and Diabetic Retinopathy.
- No new treatments are given; it's an observational study.
- Could help lead to earlier detection and better understanding of eye conditions.
- Involves regular eye checks for patients, one check for healthy volunteers.
Who may be eligible?
To join this study, you need to be an adult over 21 years old and give your written permission. Your vision will need to be within a certain range as measured by an eye chart. We are looking for people diagnosed with a specific type of dry AMD (called geographical atrophy) or people with early to moderate diabetic retinopathy, whether or not they have swelling in their macula.
We also need a group of healthy volunteers for comparison. These are adults over 21, who don't have diabetes, glaucoma, or any other eye disease affecting the back of their eye. Their vision should also be very good.
You won't be able to join if you have very cloudy vision from cataracts or other issues that would prevent us from doing our eye tests properly. Also, if you've had certain eye treatments like injections or laser therapy in the last six months, or if you have an active blood vessel problem in your eye, you won't be able to take part. It's also important that you can understand and speak English fluently and are willing to attend follow-up visits if you are in the patient group.
- Are you over 21 years old?
- Do you have Dry AMD (specifically geographic atrophy) or early/moderate Diabetic Retinopathy (or are you a healthy person without eye disease)?
- Can you read and understand English fluently?
- Do you have good enough vision to take the required eye tests?
- Have you avoided certain eye treatments (like injections or laser) in the last 6 months?
- Are you able to attend follow-up visits if you're a patient?
This is a guide only — the research team will confirm whether you can take part.
What does participation involve?
If you decide to take part as a patient, you will have specific eye tests at the start, and then again after 6 months and 12 months. These tests include the special MAIA microperimetry, where you look into a device and respond to flashes of light. We will also look at information from your existing eye clinic records, including pictures and scans of your eye.
If you are a healthy volunteer, you will only need to attend once at the start of the study. You will have the MAIA microperimetry test and an eye scan. No treatments are given as part of this study, and your usual eye care from the NHS will not change. Your total involvement depends on whether you're a patient (about 12 months) or a healthy volunteer (one visit).
Potential risks and benefits
Locations (1)
- Nottingham University Hospitals NHS TrustNottingham, United Kingdom
Common questions
What is the 'macula' and why is it important?
The macula is a tiny but very important part of the retina at the back of your eye. It's responsible for your sharp, detailed central vision, which you use for reading, recognising faces, and seeing colours clearly.
What is MAIA microperimetry?
It's a special, gentle eye test that measures how sensitive different parts of your macula are to light. It helps us see how well your central vision is working, even in very small areas.
Will I receive any new treatments in this study?
No, this study is about understanding and measuring eye changes, not testing new treatments. Your standard eye care will continue as normal.
What is the difference between Dry AMD and Diabetic Retinopathy?
Dry AMD causes the central part of your vision to gradually blur as certain cells in the macula wear out. Diabetic Retinopathy is caused by diabetes damaging blood vessels in your retina, which can sometimes lead to blurry vision from swelling.
How long will I need to be in the study if I'm a patient?
If you're a patient, your involvement will last for about 12 months, with visits at the start, 6 months, and 12 months. Healthy volunteers only attend once.
How to find out more
Always speak to your GP or specialist before deciding to take part in a study.
Interested in taking part?
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