Can light therapy dry out a swollen retina?
NCT ID NCT04847869
First seen Aug 17, 2026 · Last updated Aug 17, 2026
Summary
This pilot study tests whether shining near-infrared light on the eye can reduce macular edema—swelling in the central retina—caused by a retinal vein occlusion. Six participants with this condition will receive 12 light treatments over about five weeks. The main goal is to see if the treatment decreases retinal thickness at 12 weeks, with secondary checks on vision changes and the need for standard rescue injections.
What this could mean
Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only — not medical advice or a prediction.
- Active substance
- Near-infrared light delivered via the Ellex Integre NIR laser
- What this could lead to
- If effective, this could offer a non-invasive, drug-free option to reduce retinal swelling and improve vision in people with retinal vein occlusion.
- What could go wrong
- This is a very small pilot study with only 6 participants, so results may not apply broadly. The treatment may not reduce swelling, and there is a risk of no vision improvement or the need for rescue injections.
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Conditions
The condition(s) this trial relates to.
As listed by the trial registrant
The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.
Contacts and locations
Locations
-
Macular Research Group, Save Sight Institute, The University of Sydney
Sydney, New South Wales, 2000, Australia
More trials for these conditions
Other studies related to the condition(s) this trial covers.
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