Glaucoma damages the optic nerve, usually from high pressure inside the eye, and is a leading cause of blindness. Treatment focuses on lowering eye pressure with drops, laser, or surgery. Most people keep useful vision if diagnosed early, but about half of people with glaucoma don't know they have it until damage has occurred.
What's actually going on in research
Trials are testing neuroprotection drugs that aim to protect the optic nerve directly, sustained-release implants that deliver medication for months without daily drops, new drainage devices and surgical techniques, and gene therapy for inherited forms. Researchers are also studying early detection methods using retinal imaging and biomarkers.
Neuroprotection
Drugs are being tested that may protect nerve cells from dying even when eye pressure isn't fully controlled. This could help people whose glaucoma worsens despite normal pressure.
Sustained-release implants
Small devices placed in the eye release medication slowly over six months or longer. Several are now FDA-approved, and newer versions aim to last years without daily drops.
Gene therapy
For inherited glaucoma, researchers are testing one-time gene treatments. Early studies focus on forms caused by a single gene mutation.
What to know before you search
Eligibility usually depends on glaucoma type (open-angle, angle-closure, or normal-tension), current eye pressure, visual field loss, and whether you're already on treatment.
What types of trials are currently open
- Drug trials — Testing new eye drops or pills to lower eye pressure, often comparing them to standard drops or testing combinations.
- Device trials — Testing tiny implants that drain fluid from the eye or release medication over time, aiming to avoid daily drops.
- Surgical trials — Comparing new laser techniques or drainage surgeries to existing procedures, often for people whose glaucoma isn't controlled with drops.
- Neuroprotection trials — Testing drugs or supplements that may protect the optic nerve from damage, separate from lowering eye pressure.
- Observational studies — Following people with glaucoma to understand how the disease progresses and what factors predict vision loss.
Recently added Glaucoma trials
Receive a new eye implant placed in a doctor's office
Clinical in-use observational trial to evaluate the administration of iDose TR (travoprost intracameral implant) in an office-based surgery setting.
Complete brain MRI scans to study glaucoma effects on the nervous system
The EVOLUTION is a 10-year extension of the ENVOL study. It seeks to compare the evolution of structural and functional connectivity (Hub Disruption Index) and cerebral volume on 3T MRI of the brain in glaucoma patients and matched controls. The study aims to examine the hypothesis that glaucomatous optic neuropathy is not limited solely to the visual pathway, but rather is associated with a broader degeneration of the central nervous system.
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