Randomized Controlled Trial of LUtein as a Novel Neuroprotective Adjunctive Therapy to Improve Visual Outcome of Rhegmatogenous Retinal Detachment (LUNAR Study)

Study Overview
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Brief Summary
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Retinal detachment is a major cause of blindness, particularly among contemporary Asian populations due to the high prevalence of myopia. Without timely treatment, retinal detachment invariably results in blindness. As the only effective treatment is surgery, much effort has been invested to enhancing surgical outcome of retinal detachment repair. Advances in new instrumentations, viewing systems and refined surgical techniques have all contributed to improved rate of retinal re-attachment (anatomical outcome). Nevertheless, successful re-attachment of the retina after surgery does not always restore vision (visual outcome), especially when retinal detachment involves the macula (macula-off retinal detachment). The reason for poor visual outcome is believed to be due to apoptosis of photoreceptors, which may occur early and rapidly after the onset of retinal detachment. Neuroprotection has therefore been considered a valid strategy to improve visual outcome of retinal detachment surgery. Lutein is a promising potent neuroprotective agent for the retina, and has been shown in preliminary clinical and laboratory studies that it could salvage photorecepters in retinal detachment. We hypothesize that oral intake of lutein soon after onset of retinal detachment could prevent photoreceptor neurons from dying and thus limit the loss of vision. To test such hypothesis, we propose to conduct a double-masked, randomized controlled trial to evaluate the efficacy of lutein as an adjuvant therapy to improve visual outcome for surgical repair of primary rhematogenous retinal detachment involving the macula in Asian Singaporeans. The potential clinical and scientific significance of this trial is clear. It may provide first evidence that pharmacological neuroprotection can be used as an effective therapeutic modality in the clinical management of retinal detachment, and result in a paradigm shift in clinical practice, ultimately leading to better visual outcome and quality of life for patients undertaking surgical repair of retinal detachment.

Detailed Description
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Retinal detachment is a major cause of blindness, particularly among contemporary Asian populations due to the high prevalence of myopia. Without timely treatment, retinal detachment invariably results in blindness. As the only effective treatment is surgery, much effort has been invested to enhancing surgical outcome of retinal detachment repair. Advances in new instrumentations, viewing systems and refined surgical techniques have all contributed to improved rate of retinal re-attachment (anatomical outcome). Nevertheless, successful re-attachment of the retina after surgery does not always restore vision (visual outcome), especially when retinal detachment involves the macula (macula-off retinal detachment). The reason for poor visual outcome is believed to be due to apoptosis of photoreceptors, which may occur early and rapidly after the onset of retinal detachment. Neuroprotection has therefore been considered a valid strategy to improve visual outcome of retinal detachment surgery. Lutein is a promising potent neuroprotective agent for the retina, and has been shown in preliminary clinical and laboratory studies that it could salvage photorecepters in retinal detachment. We hypothesize that oral intake of lutein soon after onset of retinal detachment could prevent photoreceptor neurons from dying and thus limit the loss of vision. To test such hypothesis, we propose to conduct a double-masked, randomized controlled trial to evaluate the efficacy of lutein as an adjuvant therapy to improve visual outcome for surgical repair of primary rhematogenous retinal detachment involving the macula in Asian Singaporeans. The potential clinical and scientific significance of this trial is clear. It may provide first evidence that pharmacological neuroprotection can be used as an effective therapeutic modality in the clinical management of retinal detachment, and result in a paradigm shift in clinical practice, ultimately leading to better visual outcome and quality of life for patients undertaking surgical repair of retinal detachment.

Official Title
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Randomized Controlled Trial of LUtein as a Novel Neuroprotective Adjunctive Therapy to Improve Visual Outcome of Rhegmatogenous Retinal Detachment (LUNAR Study)

Conditions
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Retinal Detachment

Intervention / Treatment
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* Dietary Supplement: Lutein
* Dietary Supplement: Placebo


Participation Criteria
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Eligibility Criteria
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Inclusion Criteria: Primary macula-off RRD (i.e. one that has not previously been treated with surgery) Able and willing to provide informed consent Exclusion Criteria: Known pre-existing macular other ocular diseases (e.g., age-related macular degeneration, myopic maculopathy, diabetic macular edema, corneal diseases) Trauma-related RRD Recurrent RRD Macula-on RRD Chronic RRD (symptoms >60 days) History of amblyopia in the affected eye Known allergy to or current use of lutein supplements Pregnant or breastfeeding women, children (age <21 years), prisoners, cognitively impaired persons

Ages Eligible for Study
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Minimum Age: 21 Years

Sexes Eligible for Study
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All

Accepts Healthy Volunteers
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No

Study Plan
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How is the study designed?
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Design Details

Primary Purpose: Treatment
Allocation: Randomized
Intervention Model: Parallel Assignment
Interventional Model Description: 1:1 randomisation to placebo or lutein tablets
Masking: Quadruple


Arms and Interventions

| Participant Group/Arm | Intervention/Treatment |
| --- | --- |
| Placebo Comparator: Control<br>Patients taking inactive placebo tablets | Dietary Supplement: Placebo<br>* Inactive placebo tablet<br>|
| Experimental: Lutein<br>Patients taking lutein supplement | Dietary Supplement: Lutein<br>* Lutein is a common oral supplement that may have neuroprotective effect on the human retina<br>|

What is the study measuring?
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Primary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Visual acuity | Changes in best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) from baseline to 6-month follow-up visit | 6 month | 

Secondary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Visual acuity | Changes in best-corrected visual acuity from baseline to 12-month follow-up visit | 12 month | 
| Retinal anatomical changes | Recovery of ultrastructural retinal cell layer disruptions on optical coherence tomography scans (e.g., disappearance of outer retinal disruptions at 6 and 12 month visits) | 6 and 12 month | 
| Visual function | Changes in visual function as measured using Pelli-Robson Contrast Sensitivity and microperimetry testing for macular function | 6 and 12 month | 
| Quality of life measures | Changes in Impact of Vision Impairment Profile based on vision impairment validated questionnaires (Lamoureux EL, Pallant JF, Pesudovs K, Rees G, Hassell JB, Keeffe JE. The impact of vision impairment questionnaire: an assessment of its domain structure using confirmatory factor analysis and rasch analysis. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci. 2007;48(3):1001-1006.) | 6 and 12 months |