Clinical Research Directory

Microneedle Intra-Arterial Injection for Retinal Artery Occlusion

This prospective interventional study evaluates the efficacy and safety of direct intra-arterial microneedle injection combined with pars plana vitrectomy for acute retinal artery occlusion (including central retinal artery occlusion \[CRAO\] and branch retinal artery occlusion \[BRAO\] involving the macula or causing severe visual loss). The primary endpoint is best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA, LogMAR) at 1 month. Secondary objectives include assessing the effect of treatment timing and monitoring longitudinal changes in visual function and retinal structure over 12 months.

Early Reperfusion Therapy With Intravenous Thrombolysis for Recovery of VISION in Acute Central Retinal Artery Occlusion

Non-arteritic, thromboembolic central retinal artery occlusion (CRAO) is an acute neurovascular-ophthalmological emergency which leads to severe and permanent vision loss; no evidence-based therapy does exist. Two recent meta-analyses indicate early intravenous thrombolysis to be beneficial in CRAO. Therefore, the REVISION randomized placebo-controlled interventional trial will investigate intravenous alteplase in CRAO as it is practiced in acute ischemic stroke, i.e. within 4.5 hours after symptom onset. The REVISION observational study will evaluate retinal changes on optical coherence tomography (OCT) in patients within 12 hours of CRAO onset, and the REVISION substudy, which will be conducted adjunct to either the interventional or the observational study, will evaluate the value of the retrobulbar spot sign for prediction of outcome and treatment response.

Visual Involvement in Giant Cell Arteritis

This observational study aims to enhance the description of the different ways Giant Cell Arteritis (GCA) affects vision. The latest technology and knowledge are used to improve how we diagnose and predict patient outcomes. GCA is the most frequent vasculitis, an inflammation of vessels, in older adults. It involves large and medium-sized arteries and causes ischemic alterations such as stroke and blindness, through damage of extracranial arteries. The primary objective is to compare the frequency of the various ocular findings between the main alterations of arteritic and non-arteritic aetiology, such as Arteritic Anterior Ischemic Optic Neuropathy (A-AION) Vs. Non-Arteritic Anterior Ischemic Optic Neuropathy (NA-AION) or Central Retinal Artery Occlusion (CRAO) from GCA Vs. from other causes, through a comprehensive clinical and instrumental evaluation.