Visual assessments for the enhanced monitoring of macular disease
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Visual assessments for the enhanced monitoring of macular disease
IRAS ID
352853
Contact name
Richard Leadbeater
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
University of Leicester
Clinicaltrials.gov Identifier
179015, EDGE
Duration of Study in the UK
0 years, 11 months, 31 days
Research summary
Background
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Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is a common eye condition that causes vision loss in people over 55. It affects the macula, the part of the eye responsible for sharp, central vision. As the disease progresses, individuals with AMD may see objects as blurry or distorted, for example, straight lines may appear wavy.Current visual assessments focus on detecting large distortions, but many people with early AMD don’t notice these. Instead, blurred vision is often the first symptom. To help detect early changes, we’ve developed new vision tests that pick up on more subtle distortions, which could offer a better way to track AMD over time.
Main Experiment
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60 participants: 20 with early AMD, 20 with intermediate AMD, and 20 without AMD. All participants will provide demographic information, receive an OCT eye scan, and complete a series of visual assessments. Recruitment and testing will be handled by University Hospitals of Leicester NHS trust. We will look at whether the visual assessment results can predict the severity of AMD seen on the eye scan.Remote Testing Pilot
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We will also test whether one of our new vision tests works well at home. A group of 30 participants will try the test online, after their clinic visit. This could make it easier to monitor vision for people who can’t attend regular appointments.REC name
South Central - Oxford B Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
25/SC/0248
Date of REC Opinion
22 Jul 2025
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion