Toronto and Oak Ridge Photobiomodulation Study for Dry Age Related Macular Degeneration (TORPA)

Merry, Graham, M.D.

Status and phase

Completed

Phase 2

Conditions

Nonexudative Age-related Macular Degeneration

Treatments

Device: Photobiomodulation (Gentlewaves, Warp 10)

Study type

Interventional

Identifiers

NCT00940407

TOPRPA 08001

Details and patient eligibility

About

The purpose of this study is to evaluate clinical outcomes of Photobiomodulation treatment on patients with dry Age Related Macular Degeneration (AMD).

Photobiomodulation is the use of non thermal, non laser light of specific wavelengths and energy directly on the eye to improve retinal function and delay AMD progression.

This is a prospective 2 center phase 2 clinical pilot study with no placebo group.

Full description

Dry AMD is a progressive sight threatening disease affecting central acute vision. Dry AMD may progress to the wet form where leaking and bleeding in the retina can cause sudden severe visual loss.

There are no proven active treatments for Dry AMD. Dry AMD accounts for over 80% of AMD cases.

There are estimated to be 30 million people afflicted with AMD by the year 2020 in North America.

Photobiomodulation in this study is utilised by using two devices that are already approved for other indications by the FDA and Health Canada.

Photobiomodulation is a novel clinical application for treating dry AMD. As this is a pilot study there is no placebo or control group.

Enrollment

18 patients

Sex

All

Ages

50+ years old

Volunteers

No Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

patients of both genders aged 50 years inclusive and over
patients must have DRY macular degeneration in the study eye
best corrected visual acuity between 20/40 and 20/200
patients must be competent to sign and have signed a consent form before study entry

Exclusion criteria

visually significant cataracts
presence of a visually significant posterior capsule if prior cataract has been performed
any visually significant disease process in any ocular structure that would affect vision unrelated to macular degeneration
a patient can be enrolled if only one of their eyes meets the criteria
patients with severe clinically significant medical disease or unstable medical conditions including cardiovascular, hepatic, renal, neurological, endocrine, gastrointestinal, CNS or life threatening disease or current malignancy at the discretion of the investigators
patients who are non-ambulatory or bed ridden
female patients who are pregnant or of childbearing potential as the effects of PBM on the developing fetus are unknown
patients with a history of epilepsy
patients with a history of alcohol, drug or substance abuse in the past 6 months
patients deemed uncooperative or non compliant with the requirements of the protocol
patients who have received any investigational drug or treatment within 30 days prior to study entry
patients who are not competent to understand and sign consent form