Dr. Char DeCroos, Southeastern Retina Associates; member, Chattanooga-Hamilton County Medical SocietyQ: My uncle has the opportunity to participate in a clinical trial for an eye issue. What does that mean?
A: A clinical trial is a carefully planned study to investigate a new medicine, technology or procedure. Many types of clinical trials exist for diseases of the eye and retina. Some trials include only a handful of patients, while other late-state trials can include hundreds or thousands of patients worldwide. Anyone considering a clinical trial should receive detailed information about the risks, benefits and alternatives. People enrolled in clinical trials may benefit from access to medicine or other technology that is not available to the general public. Participants within a clinical trial also benefit from very close scientific and ethical oversight.
– Dr. Char DeCroos, Southeastern Retina Associates; member, Chattanooga-Hamilton County Medical Society
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