Retinal and Choroidal Circulation Changes Following Rapid Ascent to a High Altitude Environment

Sun Yat-sen University

Status: Completed

Conditions: High Altitude Retinopathy

Treatments: Behavioral: High attitude environment

Study type: Observational

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT04491500

2020051

Details and patient eligibility

About

This is a prospective observational study. The purpose is to explore the effect of high altitude hypobaric hypoxia on retinal microcirculation and the change of the thickness of the retina and choroid by optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA).

Full description

Yushu is in Qinghai-Tibet plateau, an average altitude of 4000 m. The medical staff is limited in Yushu. Zhongshan ophthalmic center, sun yat-sen university in Yushu blindness project has lasted many years. Some medical staff who arrived at Yushu will have a plateau response. The high altitude hypoxia on retinal microcirculation evaluated by OCTA has not been reported. The aim of the study is to observe the microcirculation changes after exploring a hypobaric and hypoxia environment using OCTA, and relation with the plateau response. OCTA is a non-invasive examination and could see the microcirculation of the fundus directly and quickly.

Enrollment: 13 patients

Sex: All

Ages: 18 to 70 years old

Volunteers: No Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

1. The subjects who plan to go to Yushu within one month.
2. Did not live on the high altitude of more than 1000 meters within 6 months.

Exclusion criteria

1. Unable and unwilling to provide informed consent.
2. Any ocular disease may influence the retinal and choroidal circulation.

Trial design

13 participants in 1 patient group

study group

Description:

This is a self-control study. Subjects who plan togo to 4000m altitude to work for two weeks will be enrolled. And before and after they arrive high altitude, they will have visual acuity, OCTA, and intraocular pressure; blood pressure, blood oxygen measurement.

Treatment:

Behavioral: High attitude environment