There has never been a more exciting time for patients suffering from dry Age-Related Macular Degeneration (dry ARMD), wet Age-Related Macular Degeneration (nARMD), Diabetic Retinopathy (DR), or Retinal Vein Occlusions (RVO).
For patients with nARMD, DR, or RVO, laser treatment was once the only treatment option available to destroy abnormal blood vessel growth or areas of leakage that lead to severe visual loss. The effectiveness was severely limited by poor visual results and a tendency for the blood vessels to grow back or leakage to recur.
Current therapy with powerful medicines delivered directly into the eye have all but replaced traditional laser therapy. These treatments are not only extremely effective in preventing further vision loss but can offer a chance of improving vision. We could not have come this far in the treatment of nARMD, DR, and RVO were it not for CLINICAL TRIALS which carefully evaluated these medications and proved that they were both SAFE and EFFECTIVE. Without the many dedicated patients who volunteered to take part in these trials, the general population and future generations would not have access to these wonderful therapies available today.
Our current research has shifted to the treatment of patients with the dry form of ARMD. We are currently enrolling patients with dry ARMD in trials that are investigating new medicines, and the latest in gene therapy. For patients with nARMD and DR, we are evaluating longer acting medications that could also improve vision. Exciting clinical trials using gene therapy may reduce or potentially eliminate the frequent eye injections required for successful treatment.
As part of The Retina Care Center’s commitment to offer our patients the most sophisticated retinal care, we recognize that not all patients respond well to traditional therapy. We also have patients who may be looking for better results than what standard therapy can offer. Regardless of motivation, it is this type of individual that might be interested in participating in a clinical trial investigating a new medication, surgical procedure, or treatment strategy.
Although clinical trials do not guarantee a cure, a better visual outcome, or even treatment with the study medication in question, patients understand that their commitment to these investigations may lead to the approval of even better treatments for retinal diseases such as ARMD, DR, and RVO. These individuals share the common goal of lessening the burden of blindness for current and future generations.
The Retina Care Center is currently enrolling patients for the following major Clinical Trials (diseases in parenthesis):
- ATMOSPHERE– RGX 314 (Neovascular Age Related Macular Degeneration)
- ShORe– OPT-302 (Neovascular Age Related Macular Degeneration)
- AMEND– QA102 (Dry Age-Related Macular Degeneration)
- SPECTRA– OPL-0401 (Diabetic Retinopathy)
- HORIZON– GT005 (Geographic Atrophy Secondary to Age-Related Macular Degeneration)
- PARASOL– JNJ-81201887 (Geographic Atrophy Secondary to Age-Related Macular Degeneration)
Please ask any staff member if you are interested in learning more about these Clinical Trials and whether you might be eligible for participation.