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

• Status: Completed
• Trial end date: 2017-01-01
• Target enrollment: 0
• Participant gender: All

Summary

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

• Accepts Healthy Volunteers?: No

Details

• Lead Sponsor: Paul S. Bernstein
• Treatments: Carotenoids

Criteria

Inclusion Criteria:

• Male or female subjects who have MacTel and can conveniently travel to the University of Utah for study evaluations