Clinical Research Directory

Functional IOL Implantation in Patients With Epiretinal Membrane

We have designed this prospective study to evaluate macular involvement and epiretinal membrane (ERM) grading by OCT in eyes with ERM and to compare clinical outcomes after implantation of Enhance IOL with standard monofocal IOL in eyes with ERM grading preoperatively, aiming to find out whether functional IOL is benefit for patients with ERM.

Randomized Trial Comparing Immediate vs. Deferred Surgery for Symptomatic ERM

Vitrectomy to remove an epiretinal membrane (ERM) is one of the most common procedures performed by retinal surgeons. Patients who present with significant macular changes on optical coherence tomography (OCT) but relatively good vision are often advised to defer surgery until vision declines to 20/40 or worse. However, it is unknown if delaying surgery, which allows the foveal architecture to remain compromised and potentially to deteriorate, results in worse visual acuity outcomes than if surgery is performed earlier. In addition, there is a need to better understand predictors of outcomes when surgery is performed and predictors of progression when surgery is deferred. Finally, one of the most common presenting symptoms from an ERM is distortion or metamorphopsia. There are several objective measures of metamorphopsia but none have ever been employed to evaluate ERMs in a randomized clinical trial (RCT) and their usefulness is unknown. The purposes of this study are to better understand the optimal timing of surgery to produce the best visual result, to better understand predictors of outcomes in those who undergo surgery and predictors of progression in those whose are observed, and to better characterize and evaluate the usefulness of metamorphopsia and reading speed measures.

Retinal Clinical Assessment With AI-derived Quantitative Information

This randomized controlled trial evaluates whether providing clinicians with AI-derived quantitative retinal information improves the quality and efficiency of retinal clinical assessment. Participating ophthalmologists and ophthalmology trainees will be randomly assigned to one of two groups. The intervention group will write clinical reports with access to automated quantitative measurements generated from fundus image analysis, including multiple retinal structural and vascular biomarkers. The control group will complete the same reporting tasks using only the original fundus images without AI-generated quantitative information. All reports produced by both groups will be de-identified and independently evaluated by a separate panel of senior ophthalmologists who are blinded to group allocation. The expert evaluators will assess report accuracy, completeness, clarity, and overall clinical quality using predefined scoring criteria. The study aims to determine whether access to quantitative retinal biomarkers enhances clinicians' reporting performance and reduces reporting time during retinal assessment tasks.

Epiretinal Membrane in Patients With DR.

To report the prevalence of ERM among patients with diabetic retinopathy, and the possible associated risk factors.

Intraoperative OCT Guidance of Intraocular Surgery II

The overall five-year goals of the project are to develop novel technology to provide actionable new information through provision of live volumetric imaging during surgery, improving surgical practice and outcomes. The investigators believe this technology will enable novel ophthalmic and other microsurgeries not possible due to current limitations in surgical visualization.

Evaluation of Retinal Parameters in Patients With Epiretinal Membrane After Vitrectomy

The goal of this interventional study is to assess the dynamics of structural and functional retinal changes in eyes with epiretinal membrane (ERM) after pars plana vitrectomy (PPV). Other study objectives include: * Identification of preoperative prognostic factors associated with better postoperative outcomes. * Evaluation of the utility of advanced, highly specialized retinal function testing as diagnostic-prognostic tools in patients after ERM surgery. * Definition of updated qualification criteria and surgical indications for vitrectomy in patients with ERM. Researchers will compare a laser-treated group (additional subthreshold micropulse yellow laser (577 nm) at 1 month post-PPV) with a nonlaser group (no additional laser) to see whether early postoperative subtreshold micropulse laser therapy (SMLT) affects selected functional and morphometric retinal parameters after ERM peeling. This prospective, randomized, controlled, single-center study includes 100 pseudophakic patients scheduled for surgical ERM removal. Eligibility requires a visually significant ERM with metamorphopsia and/or reduced best-corrected visual acuity. Participants are classified preoperatively by OCT-based Govetto staging and randomized 1:1 to either the laser-treated group or the non-laser (control) group. All patients undergo standard 25-gauge PPV with ERM peeling, followed by ILM peeling and SF₆ gas tamponade, performed by a single experienced vitreoretinal surgeon. Follow-up visits occur preoperatively, and at 1 and 4 months postoperatively; SMLT is performed at 1 month in the laser arm. Baseline questionnaire captures metamorphopsia presence (yes/no) and duration (\<6, 6-12, \>12 months). Assessments include: * best corrected visual acuity (BCVA) \[Snellen and ETDRS charts\] * enhanced depth imaging optical coherence tomography (EDI-OCT) \[retinal thickness in the nine Early Treatment Diabetic Retinopathy Study (ETDRS) subfields (μm); total retinal volume (mm³); subfoveal choroidal thickness (μm); choroidal area (mm²)\] * OCT angiography (OCTA) \[foveal avascular zone (FAZ) area in both the superficial (SVC) and deep vascular complexes (DVC) (mm²)\] * multifocal electroretinography (mfERG) \[P1-wave retinal response density (nV/deg²) in rings R1-R6; P1-wave implicit (peak) time in rings R1-R6 (ms)\] * microperimetry (average threshold (dB); fixation stability P1/P2; fixation variability via 63% and 95% bivariate contour ellipse area (BCEA)\] * wide-field fundus imaging Statistical analyses will be performed at a significance level of p\<0.05, using appropriate parametric or nonparametric methods selected based on data distribution and measurement scale.

DISCOVER Study: Microscope-integrated Intraoperative OCT Study

Optical coherence tomography (OCT )provides high resolution information regarding the anatomic structure of the tissues of the eye in a cross-sectional and 3 dimensional view. Much of this information is not able to be visualized by a clinician. Utilizing this information during surgery will allow for the ophthalmic surgeons to better understand how surgical procedures impact the anatomic structure of the eye. In this study an OCT device that has been built into the microscope (rather than mounted on the side or held in the surgeon's hand) and will be utilized to take images at various milestones during surgery to assess feasibility and potential utility of this technology. Since it is built into the microscope, there are potential significant advantages over a separate system including increased efficiency, improved working distance, and the ability to visualize tissue-instrument interactions.

Minimal Vitrectomy Surgery for Epiretinal Membrane

This multicenter randomized controlled trial evaluates Minimal Vitrectomy Surgery (MVS) versus conventional vitrectomy for idiopathic epiretinal membrane (ERM). The primary endpoints include visual acuity improvement and cataract progression after 12 months. MVS aims to minimize vitreous removal while ensuring complete membrane removal through adaptive limited vitrectomy.

New Postoperative Intraretinal Cystoid Changes After Vitrectomy With Membrane Peeling Due to Epiretinal Membranes

Epiretinal membranes (ERM) are a macular disorder leading to metamorphopsia and a decrease in visual acuity. Peeling of ERM during vitrectomy is, up to date, the only possible treatment option, opening chances for improvements of visual acuity and metamorphopsia. Occurrence of new intraretinal cystoid changes was described to be associated with a lower level of visual acuity after surgery, compared to patients, that never had intraretinal cystoid changes Aim of our study was to analyze development of new intraretinal cystoid changes after vitrectomy with membrane peeling with respect to postsurgical treatment strategies.

Vitrectomy Combined With Intravitreal Dexamethasone Implant for Idiopathic Epiretinal Membrane With Macular Oedema

The goal of this clinical trial is to evaluate the efficacy and safety of 25-gauge pars plana vitrectomy combined with intravitreal dexamethasone implant for the treatment of idiopathic epiretinal membrane with cystoid macular oedema. The main questions it aims to answer are: * mean changes in best corrected visual acuity and central macular thickness from baseline to post-operative 24 weeks * mean change in proportion of cystoid macular oedema area from baseline to post-operative 24 weeks * intraocular pressure throughout postoperative 24 weeks * concentrations of inflammatory factors in vitreous samples Participants will undergo a standard three-port 25-gauge pars plana vitrectomy and epiretinal membrane peeling combined with phacoemulsification, aspiration, and intraocular lens implantation. The dexamethasone implant will be injected into the vitreous cavity at the end of the operation.

Comparison of Efficacy Between ILM Forceps

This study is a Single center, prospective, observational, multi surgeon randomized controlled trial. Subjects will be assessed pre-operatively, operatively and at 1 month postoperatively. Clinical evaluations will include measurement of visual acuity and optical coherence tomography (OCT).

Cultivation of Hyalocytes From ILM and ERM Samples: a Pilot Study

ILM and ERM are routinely excised during surgery, as part of the surgical technique, and cultivation of hyalocytes will be performed ex vivo after surgery.