Clinical Trial: Unveiling Preclinical Idiopathic Macular Hole Formation

Study Status: Completed
Recruit Status: Completed
Study Type: Observational

Official Title: Unveiling Preclinical Idiopathic Macular Hole Formation

Brief Summary:

A macular hole is a rupture in the macula. In terms of pathogenesis, as much as 80% are idiopathic (Idiopathic Macular Hole, IMH). The normal incidence of this condition is about 0.17%; however, there is a 10-29% chance of development of a macular hole in the fellow eye of patients suffering from unilateral macular hole.

Our hypothesis is that embedded in the topography of the retina is information that can allow for discrimination between healthy eyes and eyes with an increased risk of developing IMH. As such, our work aims to develop a system that allows the automatic identification of these eyes.


Detailed Summary:

A macular hole is a rupture in the macula, the central portion of the retina, responsible for sharp, central vision and hence indispensable for most tasks. In terms of pathogenesis, even though some can be related to trauma, as much as 80% are idiopathic (Idiopathic Macular Hole, IMH). It is theorized that antero-posterior and tangential forces are behind this condition; however, no conclusions have been reached. While the normal incidence of this condition is about 0.17%, there is a 10-29% chance of developing a macular hole in the fellow eye of patients suffering from unilateral macular hole.

Our working hypothesis is that embedded in the topography of the retina is information that can allow for discrimination between healthy eyes and eyes with an increased risk of developing IMH. As such, our study consists on the characterisation of the retinal topography of fellow eyes of patients with unilateral IMH but no other visible retinal pathologies, and of eyes from controls subjects in the same approximate age group. From these topographic maps we acquire a series of features (parameters), and using machine learning techniques create a system that separates eyes into one of the groups - healthy or at risk.


Sponsor: University of Coimbra

Current Primary Outcome: Macular Topography [ Time Frame: at 1 visit ]

When a patient that fits into the description of either the case or the control group comes in for a routine visit, a routine optical coherence tomography scan is performed. These scans are non-invasive and common in ophthalmological visits.


Original Primary Outcome: Same as current

Current Secondary Outcome:

Original Secondary Outcome:

Information By: University of Coimbra

Dates:
Date Received: July 1, 2014
Date Started: May 2013
Date Completion:
Last Updated: June 16, 2016
Last Verified: June 2016