Fixation Training for Macular Degeneration
Trial Summary
Do I have to stop taking my current medications for the trial?
The trial information does not specify whether you need to stop taking your current medications. It's best to discuss this with the trial coordinators or your doctor.
What data supports the effectiveness of the treatment Fixation training for macular degeneration?
Research shows that improving fixation stability (the ability to keep your eyes steady) is linked to better visual acuity (sharpness of vision) in people with macular diseases. This suggests that fixation training could help improve vision by enhancing fixation stability, which is important for low-vision rehabilitation.12345
How is fixation training treatment different from other treatments for macular degeneration?
Fixation training for macular degeneration is unique because it focuses on improving the stability and location of eye fixation, which is crucial for vision rehabilitation, rather than directly treating the underlying disease. This approach is different from other treatments that might focus on slowing disease progression or improving vision through medication or surgery.34678
What is the purpose of this trial?
People with central vision loss almost all have exaggerated fixational eye movements when compared with people with normal vision (e.g. larger amplitudes of microsaccades and ocular drifts). Central vision loss primarily results from eye diseases or disorders that affect the macular region of the retina, such as age-related macular degeneration (AMD) and Stargardt disease. The clinical wisdom is that exaggerated fixational eye movements are detrimental to vision. This forms the basis of the increasing number of clinical trials that use fixation stability (variability of eye positions during fixation) as an outcome measure to evaluate the effectiveness of interventions on age-related macular degeneration or other retinal diseases, despite the lack of causal evidence supporting or refuting a relationship between fixational eye movements and functional vision. If excessive fixational eye movements are indeed detrimental to vision for people with central vision loss, can we reduce the amount of their fixational eye movements, thus improve their fixation stability? And if so, does that lead to improved functional vision? The goal of this study is to examine the hypothesis that retinal image motion due to abnormal fixational eye movements can be modified through fixation training, with accompanied improvements in functional vision as a result.
Eligibility Criteria
This trial is for individuals with central vision loss, often due to conditions like age-related macular degeneration (AMD) or Stargardt disease. Participants should have abnormal fixational eye movements compared to those with normal vision.Inclusion Criteria
Exclusion Criteria
Timeline
Screening
Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial
Training
Participants undergo fixation training to modify fixational eye movements, consisting of 5-6 sessions of training (about 1 hour each).
Follow-up
Participants are monitored for changes in fixation stability and functional vision after training.
Treatment Details
Interventions
- Fixation training
Find a Clinic Near You
Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?
National Eye Institute (NEI)
Lead Sponsor