NCT07134777 Mechanisms of Visual Restoration After Occipital Stroke
| NCT ID | NCT07134777 |
| Status | Recruiting |
| Phase | — |
| Sponsor | University of Rochester |
| Condition | Cortical Blindness |
| Study Type | OBSERVATIONAL |
| Enrollment | 100 participants |
| Start Date | 2025-10-17 |
| Primary Completion | 2029-08-01 |
Eligibility & Interventions
Eligibility Fast-Check
Enter your details for a quick preliminary check. This does not replace medical advice.
What to Expect as a Participant
This is an observational study. You will not receive an experimental treatment; researchers will collect data based on your existing condition or standard treatment.
This trial targets 100 participants in total. It began in 2025-10-17 with a primary completion date of 2029-08-01.
⚠ 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
This project will collect brain imaging data to quantify the effects of early visual cortex damage and visual training interventions on the structure and function of the residual visual system. Our goal is to improve understanding of the consequences of permanent visual cortex damage in humans, and to understand how visual training impacts the function of the residual visual system to restore perception.
Eligibility Criteria
Cortically Blind Subjects (n=50) Inclusion: * Subjects between 21 and 80 years of age * Subjects must be residents of the United States or Canada * Subjects must exhibit unilateral stroke or stroke-like damage to primary visual cortex or its immediate afferent white matter sustained within the specified age range of 21 - 80 years (verified by MRI and/or CT scans) * Subjects with reliable visual field defects in both eyes (homonymous defects) as measured by Humphrey, MAIA, Goldmann, and/or equivalent perimetry. This deficit must be large enough to enclose a 5-deg diameter visual stimulus. * Subjects must be able to fixate on visual targets reliably for 1000ms, with jitter over less than 1-deg of visual angle. o Note: This will be initially assessed by review of visual field reports as supplied by subjects during the screening process. However, we will be unable to fully assess their fixation ability until they start the psychophysics testing in our lab. If at that time we discover that they are unable to maintain adequate fixation, they will be withdrawn from the study. * Subjects must be willing, able, and competent to provide their own informed consent * Subjects must have their own home computer (desktop or laptop) and reliable internet access * All subjects must have normal cognitive abilities and memory, sufficient to be able to understand and follow written and oral instructions in English, as well as to remember how to complete visual training at home, on their own, as instructed, for several months. * Justification: We can only accept English-speaking subjects due to a lack of resources for supporting those who would require interpreter services. As all of our subjects are required to spend 3-5 days in lab with rigorous testing and training requirements, we must be able to communicate clearly and with minimal misunderstandings. This would require for up to 5-full days of in person interpreter services, for which we do not have funding. Additionally, ongoing communications take place by phone, email, and/or text as a part of home training (for routine check-ins and technical support for example) in the intervals between laboratory visits. This would require us to essentially have "on demand" access to interpreter services, which is simply not feasible. * Subjects must be safe and willing to undergo magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans Exclusion: * Subjects who have past or present ocular disease interfering with visual acuity * Subjects with best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) worse than 20/40 in either eye * Subjects who have documented or suspected damage to the dorsal Lateral Geniculate Nucleus * Subjects who have diffuse whole-brain degenerative processes * Subjects who have experienced traumatic brain injury * Subjects who have any other brain damage deemed by study staff to potentially interfere with training ability or outcome measures * Subjects who have oculomotor defects deemed by study staff to potentially interfere with training ability or outcome measures (i.e., by impairing stable fixation during testing or training) * Subjects who have documented history of drug/alcohol abuse * Subjects who are currently taking neuroactive medications which would impact training, as determined by PI * Subjects who have cognitive, memory or seizure disorders * Subjects with one-sided attentional neglect * Subjects who lack the competence or are otherwise unable to perform the visual training exercises as directed. * Subjects who have contradictions to MRI scanning will be excluded. These contraindications include: a) central nervous system aneurysm clips; b) implanted neural stimulator; c) implanted cardiac pacemaker or defibrillator; d) cochlear implant; e) ocular foreign body (e.g., metal shavings); f) insulin pump; g) metal shrapnel or bullet; h) any implanted device that is incompatible with MRI. * Subjects who have conditions that preclude MRI scanning, e.g., morbid obesity, claustrophobia.
Contact & Investigator
Frequently Asked Questions
Who can join the NCT07134777 clinical trial?
This trial is open to participants of all sexes, aged 21 Years or older, up to 80 Years, studying Cortical Blindness. Full inclusion and exclusion criteria are listed in the Eligibility Criteria section. Always confirm your eligibility with the research team before applying.
Is NCT07134777 currently recruiting?
Yes, NCT07134777 is actively recruiting participants. Contact the research team at evan_burr@urmc.rochester.edu for enrollment information.
Where is the NCT07134777 trial being conducted?
This trial is being conducted at Rochester, United States.
Who is sponsoring the NCT07134777 clinical trial?
NCT07134777 is sponsored by University of Rochester. The trial plans to enroll 100 participants.