AMD and Validation Rod-Meditated Dark Adaptation With Everyday Task Performance

August 6, 2026 updated by: Duke University

AMD and Validating Rod-Meditated Dark Adaptation With Everyday Task Performance

The goal is to conduct a cross-sectional, single timepoint study on older adults with early and intermediate AMD, and with subretinal drusenoid deposits (SDD), and those in normal health, establishing an association between dark adaptation and reading performance under dim illumination, both which depend on rod photoreceptors.

Study Overview

Status

Status

Indicates the current recruitment status or the expanded access status.
Recruiting

Conditions

Conditions

The disease, disorder, syndrome, illness, or injury that is being studied. On ClinicalTrials.gov, conditions may also include other health-related issues, such as lifespan, quality of life, and health risks.

Intervention / Treatment

Intervention / Treatment

A process or action that is the focus of a clinical study. Interventions include drugs, medical devices, procedures, vaccines, and other products that are either investigational or already available. Interventions can also include noninvasive approaches, such as education or modifying diet and exercise.

Detailed Description

The investigators propose two sites for the study, Duke University and UAB. Each site will enroll 100 participants as indicated in the table above, per the AREDS 9-step AMD classification system, with 200 participants in the sample. Because the variance of rod-mediated dark adaptation in AMD patients increases with increasing disease severity, the investigators will implement a larger sample size for intermediate AMD and a smaller sample for patients in normal macular health.

The investigators will collect demographic characteristics (age, race/ethnicity, gender), ocular medical history from the electronic health record, and medication use. In addition, the protocol will focus on measuring the following major components:

  1. Comprehensive eye exam
  2. Rod-mediated dark adaptation
  3. Reading performance
  4. Mobility
  5. Ellipsoid zone loss and attenuation

Statistical associations will be computed using correlational analysis for the overall sample, within each patient group, and also separately for those with SDD. Sample size estimation is challenging because there is no previous literature on the association between rod-mediated dark adaptation and MNREAD reading performance or MOST performance. With a sample size of 200 participants, the investigators will have adequate statistical power (80%) to detect a correlation of at least 0.20 for the total sample and adequate statistical power to detect within-group correlations of at least 0.40.

Study Type

Study Type

Describes the nature of a clinical study. Study types include interventional studies (also called clinical trials), observational studies (including patient registries), and expanded access.
Interventional

Enrollment (Estimated)

Enrollment

The number of participants in a clinical study. The "anticipated" enrollment is the target number of participants that the researchers need for the study.
100

Phase

Phase

The stage of a clinical trial studying a drug or biological product, based on definitions developed by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The phase is based on the study's objective, the number of participants, and other characteristics. There are five phases: Early Phase 1 (formerly listed as Phase 0), Phase 1, Phase 2, Phase 3, and Phase 4. Not Applicable is used to describe trials without FDA-defined phases, including trials of devices or behavioral interventions.
  • Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

This section provides the contact details for those conducting the study, and information on where this study is being conducted.

Study Contact

Study Contact

The name and contact information for the person who can answer enrollment questions for a clinical study. Each location where the study is being conducted may also have a specific contact, who may be better able to answer those questions.

Study Contact Backup

Study Locations

  • United States
    • North Carolina
      • Durham, North Carolina, United States, 27710
        • Recruiting
        • Duke Eye Center

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

Eligibility Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

The key requirements that people who want to participate in a clinical study must meet or the characteristics they must have. Eligibility criteria consist of both inclusion criteria (which are required for a person to participate in the study) and exclusion criteria (which prevent a person from participating). Types of eligibility criteria include whether a study accepts healthy volunteers, has age or age group requirements, or is limited by sex.

Ages Eligible for Study

  • Adult
  • Older Adult

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Yes

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  • Capable and willing to provide consent
  • Has been diagnosed with early, intermediate dry age-related macular degeneration or geographic atrophy or has a healthy macular for controls
  • At least 50 years of age

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Unable or unwilling to give consent or unable to read consent since the study involves testing which requires reading
  • Under 50 years of age
  • Presence of dense cataracts in the study eye (s) that can affect visual function tests
  • Presence of glaucoma requiring treatment during the study and/or visual field defects
  • Previous retinal laser or surgical therapy in the study eye(s)
  • Previous retinal laser or surgical therapy in the study eye(s)
  • Any other ocular condition requiring long-term therapy or surgery during the study
  • The participant has photographically significant corneal or media opacities in either eye that would preclude adequate ophthalmic imaging and functional testing
  • Diagnosis of nystagmus that will interfere with testing
  • High myopia -8 Diopters or more severe
  • The participant has, in the opinion of the Investigator, any physical or mental condition that would increase the risk of participation in the study or may interfere with the study procedures, evaluations, and outcome assessments.

Study Plan

This section provides details of the study plan, including how the study is designed and what the study is measuring.

How is the study designed?

Design Details

  • Primary Purpose: Diagnostic
  • Allocation: Non-Randomized
  • Interventional Model: Single Group Assignment
  • Masking: None (Open Label)

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm

Participant Group / Arm

A group or subgroup of participants in a clinical trial that receives a specific intervention/treatment, or no intervention, according to the trial's protocol.
Intervention / Treatment

Intervention / Treatment

A process or action that is the focus of a clinical study. Interventions include drugs, medical devices, procedures, vaccines, and other products that are either investigational or already available. Interventions can also include noninvasive approaches, such as education or modifying diet and exercise.
Other: Early AMD
Study patients who have a diagnosis of early AMD
Diagnostic test: Streetlab VR
Streetlab VR is a virtual reality headset that is warn to simulate walking through a maze at different light levels.
Other: Intermediate AMD
Study patients who have a diagnosis of Intermediate AMD
Diagnostic test: Streetlab VR
Streetlab VR is a virtual reality headset that is warn to simulate walking through a maze at different light levels.
Other: Geographic Atrophy
Study patients who have a diagnosis of Geographic Atrophy
Diagnostic test: Streetlab VR
Streetlab VR is a virtual reality headset that is warn to simulate walking through a maze at different light levels.
Other: AMD Controls
Study patients who have healthy eyes
Diagnostic test: Streetlab VR
Streetlab VR is a virtual reality headset that is warn to simulate walking through a maze at different light levels.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Primary Outcome Measures

In a clinical study's protocol, the planned outcome measure that is the most important for evaluating the effect of an intervention/treatment. Most clinical studies have one primary outcome measure, but some have more than one.
Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Total number of participants with total ellipsoid zone (EZ) band attenuation
Time Frame: Approximately 2 years
Total EZ attenuation is defined as EZ-RPE (retinal pigment epithelium) thickness = 0 μm.
Approximately 2 years

Secondary Outcome Measures

Secondary Outcome Measures

In a clinical study's protocol, a planned outcome measure that is not as important as the primary outcome measure for evaluating the effect of an intervention but is still of interest. Most clinical studies have more than one secondary outcome measure.
Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Total number of participants with partial ellipsoid zone (EZ) band attenuation
Time Frame: Approximately 2 years
Partial EZ attenuation is defined as EZ-RPE (retinal pigment epithelium) thickness ≤ 20 μm.
Approximately 2 years
Rod-mediated dark adaptation
Time Frame: Single visit, approximately 5-6 hours
Measured for right and left eyes separately using the AdaptDx, a computerized dark adaptometer.
Single visit, approximately 5-6 hours
Reading performance as measured by the MNREAD (Minnesota low vision reading) chart
Time Frame: Single visit, approximately 5-6 hours
Reading performance will be assessed binocularly with the MNREAD iPad app on a digital version of the MNREAD chart. The MNREAD is a text based chart used to measure near visual acuity in people with normal or low vision.
Single visit, approximately 5-6 hours
Mobility as measured by the Mobility Standardized Test (MOST)
Time Frame: Single visit, approximately 5-6 hours
The MOST task involves walking through a maze which can be performed under a range of mesopic and photopic conditions. Scoring is automatically computed based on the duration and mobility errors, which generated a score from 0 to 100, with 100 as the best performance.
Single visit, approximately 5-6 hours

Collaborators and Investigators

This is where you will find people and organizations involved with this study.

Sponsor

Sponsor

The organization or person who initiates the study and who has authority and control over the study.
Duke University

Collaborators

Collaborators

An organization other than the sponsor that provides support for a clinical study. This support may include activities related to funding, design, implementation, data analysis, or reporting.
Boehringer Ingelheim
StreetLab Vision

Investigators

Investigators

A researcher involved in a clinical study. Related terms include site principal investigator, site sub-investigator, study chair, study director, and study principal investigator.
  • Principal Investigator: Eleonora Lad, MD, PhD, Duke University

Study record dates

These dates track the progress of study record and summary results submissions to ClinicalTrials.gov. Study records and reported results are reviewed by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) to make sure they meet specific quality control standards before being posted on the public website.

Study Major Dates

Study Start (Actual)

Study Start

The actual date on which the first participant was enrolled in a clinical study. The "anticipated" study start date is the date that the researchers think will be the study start date.
August 15, 2025

Primary Completion (Estimated)

Primary Completion

The date on which the last participant in a clinical study was examined or received an intervention to collect final data for the primary outcome measure. Whether the clinical study ended according to the protocol or was terminated does not affect this date. For clinical studies with more than one primary outcome measure with different completion dates, this term refers to the date on which data collection is completed for all the primary outcome measures. The "anticipated" primary completion date is the date that the researchers think will be the primary completion date for the study.
December 31, 2027

Study Completion (Estimated)

Study Completion

The date on which the last participant in a clinical study was examined or received an intervention/treatment to collect final data for the primary outcome measures, secondary outcome measures, and adverse events (that is, the last participant's last visit). The "anticipated" study completion date is the date that the researchers think will be the study completion date.
January 31, 2028

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

First Submitted

The date on which the study sponsor or investigator first submitted a study record to ClinicalTrials.gov. There is typically a delay of a few days between the first submitted date and the record's availability on ClinicalTrials.gov (the first posted date).
September 24, 2024

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

The date on which the study sponsor or investigator first submits a study record that is consistent with National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review criteria. The sponsor or investigator may need to revise and submit a study record one or more times before NLM's QC review criteria are met. It is the responsibility of the sponsor or investigator to ensure that the study record is consistent with the NLM QC review criteria.
September 24, 2024

First Posted (Actual)

First Posted

The date on which the study record was first available on ClinicalTrials.gov after National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review has concluded. There is typically a delay of a few days between the date the study sponsor or investigator submitted the study record and the first posted date.
October 1, 2024

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Actual)

Last Update Posted

The most recent date on which changes to a study record were made available on ClinicalTrials.gov. There may be a delay between when the changes were submitted to ClinicalTrials.gov by the study's sponsor or investigator (the last update submitted date) and the last update posted date.
August 10, 2026

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

The most recent date on which the study sponsor or investigator submitted changes to a study record that are consistent with National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review criteria. It is the responsibility of the sponsor or investigator to ensure that the study record is consistent with the NLM QC review criteria.
August 6, 2026

Last Verified

Last Verified

The most recent date on which the study sponsor or investigator confirmed the information about a clinical study on ClinicalTrials.gov as accurate and current. If a study with a recruitment status of recruiting; not yet recruiting; or active, not recruiting has not been confirmed within the past 2 years, the study's recruitment status is shown as unknown.
August 1, 2026

More Information

Terms related to this study

Additional Relevant MeSH Terms

Other Study ID Numbers

Other Study ID Numbers

Identifiers or ID numbers other than the NCT number that are assigned to a clinical study by the study's sponsor, funders, or others. These numbers may include unique identifiers from other trial registries and National Institutes of Health grant numbers.
  • Pro00115500

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?

NO

Drug and device information, study documents

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product

No

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product

Yes

product manufactured in and exported from the U.S.

Yes

This information was retrieved directly from the website clinicaltrials.gov without any changes. If you have any requests to change, remove or update your study details, please contact register@clinicaltrials.gov. As soon as a change is implemented on clinicaltrials.gov, this will be updated automatically on our website as well.

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