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Study of Corneal Biomechanics in Glaucoma Patients Using Brillouin Microscopy

Development of Robust Corneal Biomechanical Biomarkers for Glaucoma Using Brillouin Microscopy

Who can join

As published by the study on ClinicalTrials.gov. "Not stated" means the study hasn't said — ask the study team.

Age
18 Years and older
Sex
All sexes
Healthy volunteers
Accepted
Compensation
Not stated

Other requirements are listed under Eligibility below. Only the study team can confirm whether you can join.

What to expect

No one can promise a trial will help you personally — that is what the research is trying to find out.

What participation involves

Not stated in the study description — ask the study team about visits and procedures.

Compensation
Not stated
  • Study-related exams and procedures are typically provided at no cost. This is how many trials work in general — confirm the details for this study with the study team.
  • Participants are monitored closely by the research team throughout the study.
  • Some participants may receive access to an investigational treatment, which is still being studied.
  • Your participation helps researchers learn whether this approach could help future patients.

About this study

In plain language

This small study uses Brillouin microscopy, a scan that does not touch the eye, to measure how stiff the cornea (the clear front of the eye) is. It compares adults with glaucoma at normal or high eye pressure with adults without glaucoma, and checks for changes after treatment to lower eye pressure. The goal is to see if these measurements may help show glaucoma risk and worsening.

This pilot study evaluates the biomechanical properties of the cornea in glaucoma patients using Brillouin microscopy, a non-contact imaging technique. The study aims to compare corneal stiffness between patients with normal-tension glaucoma, high-tension glaucoma, and healthy controls, and to assess changes in corneal biomechanics following intraocular pressure (IOP)-lowering treatment. The goal is to determine whether Brillouin-derived biomechanical measurements can serve as biomarkers for glaucoma risk and progression.

Compensation is read from the study's own description and may be missing — always confirm with the study team.

Eligibility

Who can join

  • Age 18 or older.
  • Have primary open-angle glaucoma, or no history of glaucoma for the comparison group.
  • Have an open eye drainage angle on an eye exam (Shaffer grade 3 or 4).
  • Have vision of 20/25 or better with glasses or other vision correction.
  • Have a glasses prescription between -5.00 and +3.00 diopters.
  • Have never used glaucoma eye drops.
  • For glaucoma groups: have high eye pressure (22 mmHg or higher) or normal eye pressure (21 mmHg or lower) at 3 visits.
  • For the comparison group: be similar in age to those with glaucoma and have a normal optic nerve and normal side-vision tests.

Who can't join

  • Cornea problems that interfere with the study scan or eye pressure test, or retinal disease that affects the nerve fiber layer at the back of the eye.
  • Past eye surgery or laser treatment, or any history of contact lens use.
  • Diabetes or low blood pressure.
  • Past uveitis (swelling inside the eye) or long-term steroid use.
  • Nerve, brain, or body-wide diseases, such as multiple sclerosis, Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, or schizophrenia.
  • Side-vision test results that are not reliable.
  • A condition that makes beta blockers unsafe, such as a slow heartbeat or severe lung disease. Beta blockers are medicines used to lower eye pressure.
  • Moderate to severe glaucoma under the study's grading rules.

Simplified for readability. The official criteria below are what the study team uses.

Official eligibility criteria

Inclusion Criteria: \- Age 18 years or older Diagnosis of primary open angle glaucoma (POAG) or no history of glaucoma (for controls) Open angle on gonioscopy (Shaffer grade 3 or 4) Best-corrected visual acuity of 20/25 or better Refractive error between +3.00 and -5.00 diopters No prior use of topical glaucoma medications Diagnosis of: High Tension Glaucoma (IOP ≥ 22 mmHg on 3 visits) Normal Tension Glaucoma (IOP ≤ 21 mmHg on 3 visits) OR age-matched control with normal optic nerve and visual fields Exclusion Criteria: Corneal abnormalities or conditions interfering with Brillouin or applanation tonometry Retinal diseases affecting RNFL (e.g., macular traction) History of ocular surgery or laser Diagnosis of diabetes History of uveitis History of prolonged steroid use Neurodegenerative or systemic diseases (e.g., multiple sclerosis, Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, schizophrenia) Unreliable visual fields Contraindications to beta blockers (e.g., bradycardia, severe pulmonary disease) Moderate to severe glaucoma (per Hodapp-Anderson-Parrish criteria) History of contact lens use Low blood pressure

Study sites (1)

MD