The Role of Macular Pigment Carotenoids in the Pathogenesis and Treatment of Macular Telangiectasia Type 2 (MacTel)

Completed

Conditions studied: Idiopathic Juxtafoveal Telangiectasia

In brief

Macular telangiectasia type 2 ("MacTel Type 2") is an uncommon eye disorder that results in slow vision loss beginning in middle age. The macula is the central part of the retina, which lines the back of the eye like the film of a camera. The macula is responsible for central or reading vision. Telangiectasis refers to dilated, leaky vessels, for example varicose veins in the legs. One of the earliest manifestations of macular telangiectasia type 2 is an acquired reduction and/or redistribution of the macular pigment carotenoids at the foveal center. Currently, the biochemical mechanisms and clinical significance underlying these changes are not known, but it seems likely that better understanding of this phenomenon could lead to new interventions against MacTel. The objectives of this study are to image the maculas of MacTel subjects using two-wavelength autofluorescence imaging and resonance Raman imaging to target the 7-degree radius pigment ring characteristic of macular telangiectasia type 2 in order to gain further insight into the significance of this early clinical sign, and to evaluate whether supplementation with oral zeaxanthin can normalize macular pigment distribution in MacTel subjects

Key facts

Study ID
NCT01354093
Run by
Paul S. Bernstein
People needed
8
Starts
2011-11-01
Expected to finish
2017-01-01
Last updated by the study team
2017-06-23

Who can join

Age: 50 and older, up to 85. Sex: any. Healthy volunteers: not accepted.

You may qualify if…

Where it is running

Full record on ClinicalTrials.gov

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