Eye Conditions
Although there are many eye diseases that are studied with clinical trials, some of the most common ones are listed below. If you have been diagnosed with one of these conditions in the past, or you feel that you have had dry eyes for at least 6 months, please reach out to us about currently enrolling studies for these conditions.
Dry Eye
Dry eye is a common ocular disease that results when the eyes either do not make enough tears or do not make the right kind of tears. Our tear film is comprised of three layers that all have different and important jobs – the oily layer, watery layer, and mucin layer. These layers are responsible for preventing our tears from evaporating, moistening the eyes, and evenly spreading tears over the surface of the eyes. Common symptoms of dry eyes include: a burning or stinging sensation, scratchy or gritty feeling, excessive watering, blurred vision, redness, and mucous-like discharge. Many times, dry eyes are exacerbated by looking at a computer screen, dry climates, anti-histamine medications, and autoimmune disorders. If you suffer from any of these symptoms, you may qualify for one of our dry eye research studies. Click here to contact us about currently enrolling dry eye studies.
Glaucoma
Glaucoma is one of the leading causes of blindness in older adults. Although there are several types of glaucoma, they all result in optic nerve damage. This optic nerve damages slowly causes irreversible blindness in patients. Typically, this nerve damage is a result of insufficient draining of the fluid in the front of the eye. When the pressure of the fluid rises, the risk of vision loss from nerve damage rises. There are not any symptoms of pain to alert individuals to the presence of glaucoma. This diagnosis is purely determined by the appearance of the optic nerve and the presence of vision loss. If you have been diagnosed with a type of glaucoma in the past, please contact us about one of our glaucoma studies. Click here to contact us about currently enrolling glaucoma studies.
Presbyopia
Presbyopia is what we call the need for reading glasses. This typically presents in adults 40 years or older. Many people notice the need to hold their reading material further away to see it more clearly. The reason for this change in reading ability is due to the lens in the eye. The lens changes shape to adjust the focus for near and far. As we age, the lens loses the ability to be as “elastic” as it was before, and therefore the ability to see up close becomes more limited. Currently, the fix for presbyopia is refractive including reading glasses, bifocals, progressives, or multifocal contact lenses. If you use any of these methods or notice the symptoms of presbyopia, you may qualify for one of our new presbyopia studies. Click here to contact us for upcoming presbyopia trials.