Eye Health
Research on the eye moves quickly, from drops for dryness to injections that protect the center of your vision. If your eyes trouble you, studies in this area may be close by.
- Dry eye
- Macular degeneration
- Glaucoma
- Diabetic eye disease
- Cataract
What studies here look at
A large share of eye research tests drops: new ones for dry eye, and new ways to lower the pressure inside the eye in glaucoma. These studies usually last a few weeks to a few months, with short visits where your eyes are measured and photographed.
Studies in macular degeneration and diabetic eye disease are usually longer, because they follow whether sight holds steady over time. Some test injections into the eye given in the clinic; the team explains how the eye is numbed long before anyone agrees to take part.
Who studies often look for
Adults whose eyes feel dry, gritty or tired most days
People told they have raised eye pressure or early glaucoma
Adults with wet or dry macular degeneration
People with diabetes who have had changes found in the back of the eye
Each study sets its own requirements. Read this as the people who tend to be asked, not as a checklist.
What taking part might involve
Four things studies in this area often ask of the people who take part.
Eye measurements
Reading charts, pressure checks and a count of how quickly your tears break up.
Photographs of the eye
A painless scan of the retina that takes a few minutes with your chin on a rest.
Drops at home
A bottle to use on a schedule, with a short note of each dose.
Dilation
Drops that widen the pupil for a fuller look. Plan for someone else to drive home.
Questions for the study team
Take these to your first call, and note the answers.
- Will my eyes be dilated, and should I bring someone to drive me?
- Can I keep using my usual eye drops during the study?
- Do I need to stop wearing contact lenses, and for how long?
Hear about studies in this area
Sign up with Eye Health as your area and your ZIP code, and we will text you when a study near you lines up.
Sign up for this areaSee what is recruiting today
ClinicalTrials.gov is the public U.S. list of studies. This search shows recruiting studies for dry eye disease.
Open the registry search