Protocol Number: 04-EI-0128

Title:

Evaluation of the Age-Related Eye Disease Study (AREDS) Clinical Lens Grading System

Number:

04-EI-0128

Summary:

This study will evaluate a system developed to grade the severity of age-related cataract, a common cause of vision loss in older adults. Cataract research requires methods to simply and accurately determine the type and severity of cataracts in order to develop new, possibly non-surgical, treatments.

Patients 50 years of age and older with one of the three major age-related cataract types (nuclear, cortical, and posterior subcapsular) may be eligible for this study. Participants will be recruited from among patients enrolled in other National Eye Institute protocols.

Participants will have their eyes examined independently by two ophthalmologists with a biomicroscope, a magnifying device routinely used during eye examinations. The doctors will use the new grading system to record if a cataract is present, and if so, how severe it is. The examination includes measurement of visual acuity (vision chart test) and examination of the lens, retina, pupils and eye movements. Photographs of the eye will be taken using a special camera that flashes a bright light in the eye.

Sponsoring Institute:

National Eye Institute (NEI)

Recruitment Detail

Type: Active Accrual Of New Subjects

Gender: Male & Female

Referral Letter Required: No

Population Exclusion(s): Children

Eligibility Criteria:

INCLUSION CRITERIA:

1. Patient must understand and sign the informed consent.

2. Patient must be at least 18 years of age.

3. Pupillary dilation to at least 6 mm must be possible.

4. Patients must have at least one natural lens present.

EXCLUSION CRITERIA:

Patients below the age of 18 will be excluded from participation in this study of age-related cataract.

1. Any condition such as corneal opacification that precludes adequate slit lamp examination and photography of the lens.

Special Instructions: Currently Not Provided

Keywords:

Cortical

Nuclear Sclerosis

Posterior Subcapsular

Photographic Methods

Reproducibility (intra and interobserver)

Cataract

Agreement

Grading System

Recruitment Keywords:

Cataract

Conditions:

Cataract

Investigational Drug(s):

None

Investigational Device(s):

None

Contacts:

Patient Recruitment and Public Liaison Office
Building 61
10 Cloister Court
Bethesda, Maryland 20892-4754
Toll Free: 1-800-411-1222
TTY: 301-594-9774 (local),1-866-411-1010 (toll free)
Fax: 301-480-9793

Electronic Mail:prpl@mail.cc.nih.gov

Citations:

Steinberg EP, Javitt JC, Sharkey PD, Zuckerman A, Legro MW, Anderson GF, Bass EB, O'Day D. The content and cost of cataract surgery. Arch Ophthalmol. 1993 Aug;111(8):1041-9.

PMID: 8352686

Age-Related Eye Disease Study Research Group. The age-related eye disease study (AREDS) system for classifying cataracts from photographs: AREDS report no. 4. Am J Ophthalmol. 2001 Feb;131(2):167-75. PMID: 11228291

Chylack LT Jr, Leske MC, McCarthy D, Khu P, Kashiwagi T, Sperduto R. Lens opacities classification system II (LOCS II)

Arch Ophthalmol. 1989 Jul;107(7):991-7. PMID: 2751471

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