Assessment of Optic Nerve Radiation in Patients With Glaucoma and Ocular Hypertension by 7 Tesla … (NCT01864317) | Clinical Trial Compass
TerminatedPhase 2
Assessment of Optic Nerve Radiation in Patients With Glaucoma and Ocular Hypertension by 7 Tesla Diffusion Tensor Imaging
Austria120 participantsStarted 2015-11
Plain-language summary
Glaucoma is among the leading causes for blindness in the western world. Elevated intraocular pressure (IOP) has been identified as the most important risk factor. However, some patients progress despite adequate IOP lowering while some subjects with elevated IOP never develop glaucoma. Other patients develop glaucoma although IOP measurements were always in the normal range. Therefore, other factors must be involved. In the last years, studies using MRI have been performed and evidence has accumulated that also changes in retrobulbar structures are present, in particular in the lateral geniculate nucleus and the visual cortex. However, these studies were limited by the low spatial resolution of the MRI instruments used.
The investigators propose to overcome this problem by using an ultrahigh-field Magnetom 7T whole-body MR scanner (Siemens Medical, Germany) installed at the MR Centre of Excellence at the Medical University of Vienna. This scanner is equipped with a 32-channel head coil and the SC72 high-performance gradient system and is thus perfectly suited for structural and functional imaging. The aim of the present study is to investigate whether structural and functional parameters are altered in patients with primary open angle glaucoma (POAG), normal tension glaucoma (NTG), ocular hypertension (OHT) compared to healthy control subjects. The exact topographical survey of intracranial structures such as the LGN and the assessment of neuronal structures by DTI may allow for the better assessment of therapeutic responses to new neuroprotective agents.
Who can participate
Age range
18 Years
Sex
ALL
See this in plain English?
AI-rewrites the medical criteria so a patient or caregiver can understand them. Always confirm with the trial site.
Inclusion Criteria:
Healthy controls
* Men and women aged over 18 years
* Normal findings in the medical history unless the investigator considers an abnormality to be clinically irrelevant
* Normal ophthalmic findings
Patients with ocular hypertension
* Men and women aged over 18 years
* Normal findings in the medical history unless the investigator considers an abnormality to be clinically irrelevant
* Normal ophthalmic findings except presence of ocular hypertension (defined as untreated IOP ≥ 21 mmHg on at least three measurements in the medical history, no signs of glaucomatous damage in the optic disc or the glaucoma hemifield test)
Patients with primary open angle glaucoma
* Men and women aged over 18 years
* Normal findings in the medical history unless the investigator considers an abnormality to be clinically irrelevant
* Diagnosis of manifest primary open angle glaucoma (defined as pathological optic disc appearance, glaucoma hemifield test outside normal limits and untreated IOP \> 20 mmHg on at least three measurements in the medical history)
* Mean Deviation in the visual field test ≥ 10dB
Patients with normal-tension glaucoma
* Men and women aged over 18 years
* Normal findings in the medical history unless the investigator considers an abnormality to be clinically irrelevant
* Diagnosis of normal-tension glaucoma (defined as pathological optic disc appearance, glaucoma hemifield test outside normal limits and untreated IOP ≤ 20 mmHg on at least three m…
Questions worth asking your doctor
Bring these to your next appointment. They're a starting point for a shared conversation — not a sign you qualify or a recommendation to enrol.
1Based on my diagnosis and history, is this trial worth exploring for me — or is there a standard treatment we should try first?
2What does this trial's phase tell us about how much is already known about its safety and benefit?
3What would taking part actually involve for me — visits, tests, time, and travel?
4What are the known and possible risks or side effects I should weigh, and how would they be monitored?
5If this trial isn't the right fit, what other options or trials would you suggest I look into?
Generated to help you prepare — always confirm anything about your own eligibility and care with the study team and your doctor.
Questions for the trial coordinator
The trial coordinator is the person who runs the study day to day. These cover the practical side — logistics, costs, and what taking part would actually mean for your life. The study team confirms whether you meet the criteria; these are questions to ask, not a sign you qualify.
1What does taking part actually involve week to week — how many visits, where, and how long does each one take?
2What costs are covered by the study, and what might I have to pay for myself, including travel, parking, or time off work?
3What happens during screening, and what happens if the study team confirms I don't meet the criteria after those tests?
4Who pays for the scans, blood work, and other tests the trial requires — the study, my insurance, or me?
5How will being in the trial affect my regular care, and will my own doctor stay informed and involved?
6Can I leave the trial at any point if I change my mind, and what would happen to my care if I do?
A starting point for the conversation — always confirm anything about your own eligibility, costs, and care with the study team and your doctor.
What they're measuring
1
High resolution functional and structural imaging of the visual pathway
Timeframe: once on the study day (approximately 1 hour)