NCT04762368 Learning Study: Improving Vision in Adults With Macular Degeneration
| NCT ID | NCT04762368 |
| Status | Recruiting |
| Phase | — |
| Sponsor | University of Waterloo |
| Condition | Macular Degeneration |
| Study Type | INTERVENTIONAL |
| Enrollment | 30 participants |
| Start Date | 2021-02-13 |
| Primary Completion | 2026-12 |
Eligibility & Interventions
Eligibility Fast-Check
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What to Expect as a Participant
You will actively receive the study intervention — which may be a drug, biologic, device, or procedure.
This trial targets 30 participants in total. It began in 2021-02-13 with a primary completion date of 2026-12.
⚠ This information is for research awareness only. Always consult your physician before joining any clinical trial. Participation is voluntary and you may withdraw at any time.
Brief Summary
The purpose of this study is to test whether a kind of brain stimulation called anodal transcranial direct current stimulation (a-tDCS) can be combined with perceptual learning to improve the ability of people with age-related macular degeneration (AMD) or juvenile macular degeneration (JMD) to read words presented to them on a computer screen better than if perceptual learning alone were used. In addition, secondary measures of visual acuity will also be examined to determine whether brain stimulation can allow patients to resolve finer details of an image. The proposed treatment is the application of a-tDCS onto the participant's head, with brain stimulation aimed at Primary Visual Cortex toward the occipital pole, while patients undergo six separate sessions of training. The investigators will test the ability of participants to read words before the start of the training sessions (pre test) and after the completion of all training sessions (post test). This is a between-subjects design, and half of the participants will receive true stimulation, and the other half will receive sham stimulation. The difference between the pre and post tests when receiving active stimulation will be compared to the difference when receiving sham stimulation, because the sham stimulation is not expected to influence reading beyond a placebo. The aim of the study is to examine the potential of concurrent brain stimulation and perceptual learning as an effective treatment for macular degeneration that may be used in conjunction with more traditional eye-based interventions. The investigators hypothesize that the brain stimulation will enable higher performance in the reading task after and secondary measures after perceptual training due to an increase in the cortical excitability of the stimulated brain cells.
Eligibility Criteria
Inclusion Criteria: 1. Diagnosis of AMD (age 60+) or JMD (current age 18+). 2. Visual acuity (VA); between 6/9-6/96 in the better eye 3. Best-corrected near visual acuity of 4.0M at 40 cm or better in the better eye 4. Stable vision in previous 3 months (patient report) 5. Central vision loss Exclusion Criteria: 1. Diagnosed dementia. 2. Not fluent in reading English (Waterloo) or Chinese characters (Hong Kong). 3. Any ocular surgery (including anti-vegF injections) within the duration of the study, except for: A. Chronic and continuous injections for at least 1 year. B. Injections stopped at least 2 months before participation. C. Injections in the untested eye 4. Ocular pathology other than JMD or AMD that can significantly reduce central vision. Example: mild cataract of grade 2 or below is acceptable 5. Severe hearing impairment. 6. Contraindications for brain stimulation
Contact & Investigator
Ben Thompson, PhD
PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
University of Waterloo
Frequently Asked Questions
Who can join the NCT04762368 clinical trial?
This trial is open to participants of all sexes, aged 18 Years or older, studying Macular Degeneration. Full inclusion and exclusion criteria are listed in the Eligibility Criteria section. Always confirm your eligibility with the research team before applying.
Is NCT04762368 currently recruiting?
Yes, NCT04762368 is actively recruiting participants. Contact the research team at ben.thompson@uwaterloo.ca for enrollment information.
Where is the NCT04762368 trial being conducted?
This trial is being conducted at Waterloo, Canada, Hung Hom, Hong Kong.
Who is sponsoring the NCT04762368 clinical trial?
NCT04762368 is sponsored by University of Waterloo. The principal investigator is Ben Thompson, PhD at University of Waterloo. The trial plans to enroll 30 participants.