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Once you have agreed to participate in a clinical trial, you must first be “screened” to make sure that you qualify for the study. The Research Coordinator will schedule the screening appointment with you.

Before any screening assessments begin, we will review the Informed Consent Form (ICF) with you to answer any questions you may have to make sure you adequately understand the content of the consent form.

Once you have signed the ICF, the following typical assessments are performed:

  • A review of your medical and surgical history, and medications you are taking
  • A visual acuity exam (an assessment of how well you can see with corrective lenses)
  • A measurement of pressure inside the eye and dilation of the pupil
  • Ocular imaging procedures (for example: Optical Coherence Tomography and Fundus Color Photos)
  • A complete ophthalmic exam (the doctor will examine your eye(s) thoroughly and note all findings
  • Collection of blood and urine samples (if required by study)

Each study will have its own specific entry criteria that you must meet in order to enroll in the study. These criteria vary widely from study to study and are designed to make sure that you are protected and that the data produced by the study is useful.

You may be enrolled into the clinical trial once all screening procedures are performed and the study doctor and study sponsor have all the information needed to make sure you are eligible.