Testing night vision to measure retinal disease severity
Studies how well people see in the dark to assess retinal disease.
Plain-language title generated from the registry record
Registry title: Rod and Cone Mediated Function in Retinal Disease
Key facts
- Where
- Bethesda, United StatesSee the site
Could this be for you?
Answer for yourself. This is not a decision: only the study team can say whether you can take part.
- Are you between 5 and 100 years old?
Source: NCT02617966, who can take part
Where in United States
- National Institutes of Health Clinical CenterBethesda, United StatesTaking people
Questions to ask the study team
- How often do I need to come in, and for how long each time?
- Are travel costs paid?
- Can I keep my own doctor?
- What happens if I want to stop?
Trial details
- Who runs it
- National Eye Institute (NEI)
- Trial code
- NCT02617966
- Record updated
- 9 November 2026
- Original description
Background:Read full original descriptionShow less
Rod and Cone Mediated Function in Retinal Disease
Background:
Retinal diseases cause the loss of rod and cone photoreceptors. Symptoms include vision loss and night blindness. Researchers want to learn about rod and cone function in healthy people and people with retinal disease. They want to know if how well a person sees in the dark can test the severity of retinal disease.
Objectives:
To find out if how well a person sees in the dark can test the severity of retinal disease. To find out if this can help detect retinal disease and track its changes.
Eligibility:
People ages 5 and older with:
Retinal disease OR
20/20 vision or better with or without correction in at least one eye
Design:
Participants will be screened with medical and eye history and eye exam. Those with retinal disease will also have:
Eye imaging: Drops dilate the eye and pictures are taken of it.
Visual field testing: Participants look into a bowl and press a button when they see light.
Electroretinogram (ERG): An electrode is taped to the forehead. Participants sit in the
dark with their eyes patched for 30 minutes. Then they get numbing drops and contact
lenses. Participants watch lights while retina signals are recorded.
Visit 1 will be 3-8 hours. Participants will have up to 6 more visits over 6-12 months. Visits include:
Eye exam and imaging
Time course of dark adaptation: Participants view a background light for 5 minutes then
push a button when they see colored light.
Dark adapted sensitivity: Participants sit in the dark for 45 minutes. They push a button when
they see colored light.
For participants with retinal disease, ERG and visual field testing
...
Exclusion: -Participant with changes in pre-retinal media sufficient to obscure a view of the retina.
INCLUSION CRITERIA:; Participant must be five years of age or older; Participant (or legal guardian) must understand and sign the protocol s informed consent document; Participant must be able to cooperate with the testing required for this study; For Participants with retinal disease only:; Participant must have retinal disease, defined as evidence of loss of retinal dysfunction and/or degeneration as established by standard clinical methods including perimetry, ERG and imaging; Participant must have a measurable visual acuity; For Healthy Volunteers only:; -Participant must have visual acuity of 20/20 or better, with or without correction (e.g., glasses or contact lens) in at least one eye.