Vision Clinical Trials

Vision clinical trials explore new approaches in prevention, detection and treatment of eye disease.

Clinical trials are a major component of clinical research and are critical to progress in health care. Clinical trials consist of voluntary medical research and drug development studies that are conducted in people. They are designed to generate safety and efficacy data for health interventions, such as:

• Drugs
• Devices
• Therapeutic procedures
• New ways of using existing treatments or devices

Most clinical trials look at innovative approaches to detecting, preventing or treating disorders or disabilities, or at ways to improve the quality of life for people with chronic illnesses. All clinical trials conducted in the United States must adhere to a strict, predetermined protocol and must be approved and monitored by an Institutional Review Board (IRB) composed of physicians, scientists, statisticians and laypeople who are responsible for ensuring that any risks are minimal relative to the potential benefits of the study.

Vision clinical trials

A vision clinical trial features human participation to explore a specific area of clinical vision research. Like clinical trials in general, all vision clinical trials are designed to determine whether a new approach is more effective than current ones in the prevention, early detection or treatment of eye disease.

Advancing care through vision clinical trials

Along with the insights gained from basic eye research, which explores the underlying visual science and disease processes for major conditions, clinical vision research trials help to drive new advances in the treatment of eye disease. In addition, the patients who participate in vision clinical trials sometimes have the potential to benefit first from the new drug, device or other approach being studied. Ultimately, the collective knowledge gained from these clinical trials helps to develop new standards of care that benefit all patients.

Comprehensive clinical vision research

The Department of Ophthalmology participates in vision clinical trials in the major areas of clinical vision research, including:

• Cornea
• Glaucoma
• Human visual function
• Neuro-ophthalmology
• Ocular oncology
• Retina

Advanced treatment for eye disease

The Henry Ford Department of Ophthalmology has extensive experience in the treatment of all eye diseases, regardless of their complexity. In addition, our team works closely with Henry Ford Medical Group physicians in other departments, providing multidisciplinary, coordinated care for those patients who need it. Our patients have access to advanced diagnostic tests and treatment and, if eligible, related vision clinical trials.