Senile macular degeneration is a leading cause of blindness in the United States and presumed ocular histoplasmosis syndrome, while less common, is an important cause of blindness. Although various treatments have been proposed for each of these conditions, including steroids and histoplasmin desensitization for ocular histoplasmosis and photocoagultion of neovascular membranes for both conditions, no treatment has been shown to be of benefit for either condition in a controlled randomized trial with a sufficient number of patients. The failure of several studies to detect statistically significant differences in eyes treated with argon laser photocoagulation compared to eyes not treated makes it mandatory to conduct a prospective trial with randomization of eyes eligible for photocoagulation in order to define the role of this therapeutic modality in both histoplasmic maculopathy and senile macula degeneration.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Eye Institute (NEI)
Type
Research Project--Cooperative Agreements (U01)
Project #
5U01EY002563-08
Application #
3551247
Study Section
Vision Research and Training Committee (VSN)
Project Start
1979-09-30
Project End
1990-12-31
Budget Start
1987-01-01
Budget End
1987-12-31
Support Year
8
Fiscal Year
1987
Total Cost
Indirect Cost
Name
William Beaumont Hospital
Department
Type
DUNS #
City
Royal Oak
State
MI
Country
United States
Zip Code
48073