General Introduction:
Clinical trials are research protocols sponsored by government or industry. They are often national or worldwide trials. Individual practices that have been recognized as leaders in their respected fields and that also possess the resources to carefully and safely conduct these trials are identified and selected as study sites. These studies are conducted with the highest standards of patient eye care and ethics, under the general principles of Good Clinical Practice and are continuously monitored and scrutinized to ensure the safety of the patients involved. At the present time the Fort Lauderdale Eye Institute is involved in many national, multicenter randomized trials with the goal of helping patients and physicians to find better treatments in the near future for ophthalmic diseases.

1) The Diabetic Retinopathy Clinical Research (DRCR) Network is a nation-wide group of study sites that are conducting a set of studies sponsored by the United States National Institute of Health / National Eye Institute to determine the most effective treatments for various manifestations of diabetic retinopathy. In these studies, depending on the patient’s type of diabetic retinopathy, new combinations of laser, medication, and/or education are offered. There are currently several ongoing studies from DRCR.net.

2) Nepafenac twice daily for Macular Edema after Cataract Extraction
The major objective of the trial is to compare the eyes treated with Nepafenac twice daily 0.3% concentration to those treated with placebo.
We are looking for patients that meet certain criteria which includes visually significant cataracts. These patients must have Non-proliferative Diabetic Retinopathy, with no evidence of Diabetic macular edema. Patient will receive free study medication and free post cataract drops.

3) A Study of AGN-195263 for the Treatment of Meibomian Gland Dysfunction
This study will evaluate the safety and efficacy of AGN-195263 compared to vehicle in patients with meibomian gland dysfunction (MGD) in the eyelids
Primary Outcome Measures:
Meibum Quality Score Assessed by the Investigator on a 4-Point Scale in a Time Frame of 6 Months

4) “Pfizer B1261009” – A study on an oral agent for the treatment of Diabetic Macular edema
This study will determine the effectiveness of a pill to treat swelling associated with diabetic retinopathy, compared to standard treatment with ocular injections of medication.

5) “Chroma Study” A study on an agent to slow down progression of dry macular degeneration
This study will determine if a new medication can slow down geographic atrophy and therefore slow down visual loss from a form of dry macular degeneration.

If you have any of the above conditions or know of an affected patient who is interested in these research protocols, please contact the Research Department at the Fort Lauderdale Eye Institute at 954-453-5360.