Clinical Trials

This study is part of the Diabetic Retinopathy Clinical Research Network and aims to understand the genetic factors influencing retinal diseases, especially diabetic retinopathy (DR) and diabetic macular edema (DME). Researchers will collect blood samples from at least 5,000 participants to analyze genetic variations that may contribute to disease progression or response to treatment. The samples will be stored in a research biobank and made available for future studies. The study hopes to identify genetic markers that could predict disease risk, treatment effectiveness, or potential side effects. This information could help develop more personalized treatments for retinal diseases. Participants provide informed consent, and their data is kept confidential. While there may be no direct benefit to participants, the findings could improve care for future patients with retinal diseases.

Since 2005, a group of scientists and clinicians from around the world have identified and are studying hundreds of persons with MacTel Type 2. Progress has been made to find ways to help prevent the condition from developing and to find potential treatment(s) but more work is needed. Special scientists (geneticists) are working to understand if this disorder is inherited (passed down from your parents) and basic scientists are working to understand what happens to the eye tissue inside a MacTel eye.

The purpose of this study is to identify persons with MacTel Type 2, and their affected family members to create a Registry of persons with MacTel Type 2. This Registry will be used to study participants with MacTel Type 2 now and may be used in the future to identify persons to be in a study that may help find a way to prevent or treat this eye condition. We also wish to keep in contact with persons who have told by their MacTel doctor that they have MacTel Type 2.

In this document, the word “affected” means that it has been confirmed that you have MacTel Type 2. These persons may also be referred to as “Probands” when they are the first person in the family to be diagnosed with the disorder.

“Unaffected” means that at this time, there is no evidence of MacTel Type 2.

This clinical study is testing the Port Delivery System (PDS) with ranibizumab, an implantable device designed to provide continuous treatment for diabetic retinopathy (DR). Instead of frequent eye injections, the PDS slowly releases medication over time and only needs refilling every 36 weeks. The study will follow approximately 160 patients with DR to compare the PDS’s effectiveness and safety against standard observation without treatment. Researchers aim to determine if the PDS helps prevent vision-threatening complications and reduces treatment burden. Participants will undergo eye exams, imaging, and health monitoring throughout the study. If successful, the PDS could offer a more convenient and effective way to manage DR while maintaining vision health.

This clinical study is testing whether the drug fenofibrate can help prevent diabetic retinopathy (DR) from worsening in people with diabetes. DR is an eye disease caused by diabetes that can lead to vision loss. The study includes 560 participants with mild to moderate DR, but without severe swelling in the eye, and will follow them for up to six years. Participants will be randomly assigned to take either fenofibrate or a placebo (a pill with no active drug). Researchers aim to see if fenofibrate slows the progression of DR, reducing the need for more invasive treatments like eye injections or laser therapy. The study also explores how doctors can safely prescribe fenofibrate and monitor its effects in collaboration with primary care providers. If successful, this research could provide a new, widely accessible way to protect the vision of people with diabetes.

The COAST clinical study is investigating the best way to use selective laser trabeculoplasty (SLT) to treat high-risk ocular hypertension and mild-to-moderate open-angle glaucoma. The study will compare two SLT energy levels—standard and low—to see which is more effective and safer. It will also examine whether repeating SLT annually at low energy is better than performing it only when necessary. Participants will be randomly assigned to different treatment groups and followed for four years, with regular eye exams to track intraocular pressure (IOP) and disease progression. The study aims to identify the optimal SLT treatment strategy to reduce the need for glaucoma medications while maintaining effective eye pressure control. If successful, the results could improve treatment guidelines and reduce the burden of glaucoma management for patients.

This Phase 3 clinical study is evaluating RGX-314, a gene therapy designed to treat neovascular age-related macular degeneration (nAMD), a leading cause of vision loss. The study compares the safety and effectiveness of a single subretinal injection of RGX-314 to regular eye injections of aflibercept, a standard treatment for nAMD. Approximately 660 participants will be enrolled globally, with some receiving RGX-314 and others receiving aflibercept for 54 weeks. After this period, control participants may switch to RGX-314 if they meet eligibility criteria. The study will assess vision improvement, the need for additional treatments, and overall safety. If successful, RGX-314 could offer a long-term treatment option, reducing the need for frequent eye injections.

This Phase 3 clinical trial, called NAC Attack, is testing whether the antioxidant N-acetylcysteine (NAC) can slow vision loss in people with retinitis pigmentosa (RP), a genetic disease that causes progressive blindness. The study will enroll about 438 participants across multiple sites in the U.S., Canada, Mexico, and Europe. Participants will take either NAC tablets or a placebo for 45 months, with regular vision tests and eye scans to measure the treatment's effects. Researchers aim to determine whether NAC can help protect retinal cells and slow the progression of vision loss. The study also monitors potential side effects and the long-term safety of NAC. If successful, NAC could become the first treatment to slow vision decline in RP patients, benefiting those at risk of losing their sight.

This clinical study is testing a new way to manage neovascular age-related macular degeneration (nAMD), a leading cause of vision loss. Currently, patients receive eye injections at regular intervals, but it’s unclear how often they truly need them. The study compares two treatment methods: one where patients follow a "Treat and Extend" schedule (gradually extending time between injections) and another where patients use a Home OCT device for daily eye scans, which may allow for more personalized treatment timing. Researchers will track vision changes, injection frequency, and overall treatment burden over two years. The study includes 600 participants across multiple sites, all receiving the anti-VEGF drug Faricimab. By testing these approaches, the study aims to determine if Home OCT monitoring leads to better vision outcomes or fewer injections. If successful, this could reduce treatment costs and burdens while maintaining or improving vision care for nAMD patients.

This clinical research study is investigating ways to prevent vision loss caused by radiation treatment for eye cancer. Radiation retinopathy, a condition that can develop after treatment, can lead to severe vision impairment. The study compares two different eye treatments—Faricimab injections and Fluocinolone Acetonide implants—against a control group that receives no preventive treatment. Researchers aim to determine whether these treatments can reduce or delay vision problems by preventing swelling and damage in the eye. The study will follow 600 participants for three years, tracking their vision health through regular checkups. Participants are randomly assigned to one of the three groups and will receive treatment according to their group’s protocol. The goal is to find an effective strategy to protect vision in patients undergoing radiation therapy for eye cancer.