ATHENA
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Optical Coherence Tomography Angiography for the detection of Neovascular Age-related Macular Degeneration: a Comprehensive Diagnostic Accuracy Study.
IRAS ID
295260
Contact name
Konstantinos Balaskas
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Moorfields Eye Hospital NHS Foundation Trust
ISRCTN Number
ISRCTN18313457
Duration of Study in the UK
2 years, 5 months, 30 days
Research summary
This study is looking at the best way to confirm the presence of an eye condition known as neovascular age-related macular degeneration (nAMD), a common condition that affects vision. \n\nnAMD usually affects people in their 50s and 60s, and diagnosis is confirmed by examining the back of the eye. There are a number of ways of doing this, the most common being Fluorescein Angiography (FA) where any leakage of a fluorescent dye over several minutes is detected by a special camera. As well as being labour-intensive, time-consuming and inconvenient for the patient, FA is not always informative, and sometimes a further dye test called Indocyanine-Green Angiography (ICGA) is needed to confirm diagnosis of nAMD, especially when a variant of nAMD called Polypoidal Choroidal Vasculopathy (PCV), is suspected.\n\nNewer techniques for looking at the back of eye are now available. One is called Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT) that quickly scans the back of the eye. Alongside a clinical examination, OCT is now the preferred imaging test to confirm the diagnosis of nAMD. The findings of OCT can be confused with other conditions and so to get a definite diagnosis of nAMD it is often used alongside other tests such as FA/ICGA.\n\nOptical Coherence Tomography-Angiography (OCTA) is a more recent technology already available in many NHS Trusts. OCTA provides a better image of the retina and the blood flow to the back of the eye. \n\nWe would like to see if OCTA is a good enough test to replace FA. \n
REC name
South Central - Oxford B Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
21/SC/0412
Date of REC Opinion
26 Jan 2022
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion