REDEFINE
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Studying retinal structure with adaptive optics and function with multifocal electroretinogram (REDEFINE)
IRAS ID
314281
Contact name
Laura Young
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
Duration of Study in the UK
1 years, 5 months, 2 days
Research summary
The leading cause of blindness among working age adults in the UK are inherited diseases that affect the light-sensitive cells (the photoreceptors) at the back of the eye (the retina). Imaging the retina and measuring the function are important in these cases to diagnose and monitor disease. Sensitive measures of the retina’s structure and function are also highly important in measuring changes in response to new treatments that are being trialled. Standard imaging techniques are limited by the optical properties of the front of the eye which causes optical aberrations (changes to how light rays are reflected that causes blurring of images). Adaptive optics (AO) can be applied to standard imaging techniques used in ophthalmology such as the scanning laser ophthalmoscope (SLO) to correct for these changes to achieve detailed images that allow individual cells to be seen, particularly the photoreceptors. However, AO is a relatively new technology and therefore it is unclear how to use the information that is possible to get from these images. This study will measure the structure of the retina using AOSLO imaging and compare this to established clinical imaging assessments (optical coherence tomography) and visual level (visual acuity). The study will also look to see how the retinal structure is related to how the retina responds to light with the multifocal electroretinogram (mfERG). The mfERG gives a measure of how well the retina works in small areas of the back of the eye, and can be sensitive to changes in disease. This study will compare how this relationship varies in healthy controls and in a group of those with retinal disease.
REC name
North of Scotland Research Ethics Committee 1
REC reference
23/NS/0049
Date of REC Opinion
29 May 2023
REC opinion
Favourable Opinion