Corneal imaging to monitor disease progression and/or treatments
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Corneal imaging and densitometry measurements to monitor disease progression and/or treatments outcomes
IRAS ID
190283
Contact name
M Chantal Hillarby
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
University of Manchester
Duration of Study in the UK
2 years, 5 months, 1 days
Research summary
The main purpose of this study is to determine if corneal clarity measurements may improve the management of corneal disease. The aim is to use corneal clarity measurements derived by new densitometry software for analysing Oculus Pentacam images. These images are already part of routine assessment of corneal disease but the new software allows clarity to be assesses. This may help to determine corneal disease progression, severity and treatment outcome.
We aim to use this software to assess corneal clarity in in health and disease. In diseases that involve the loss of the corneal endothelium, there is an increasing reduction in corneal clarity, which may reach a point where a corneal graft may be beneficial. At present, there are no methods that give a numerical measurement of clarity that can be used along with other indicators of when a graft would improve vision, therefore, Corneal densitometry measurements may help determine when surgery is needed. Several types of corneal transplants are available and following patients post-surgery may shed light on which type of transplant gives the best corneal clarity.
We will also apply these measurements to other corneal treatments such as refractive surgery and corneal cross-linking to determine treatment outcome.REC name
North East - York Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
15/NE/0363
Date of REC Opinion
23 Oct 2015
REC opinion
Favourable Opinion