Visual Activity Evoked by Infrared in Humans After Dark Adaptation

Summary

This pilot study will evaluate the visual response to infrared (IR) in humans after dark adaptation. The investigators plan to determine which wavelength and intensity the human eye is most sensitive to in healthy and color-blind participants by using a broad spectrum light source and wavelength-specific IR bandpass filters.

The long-term goal of this research is to better understand the role that IR plays in visual function, and whether this can be manipulated to allow for vision in certain retinal pathologies that result from loss of photoreceptor cells. The investigators central objective is to test the electrophysiologic response to IR in the dark-adapted retinal and visual pathways. The investigator's central hypothesis is that IR evokes a visual response in humans after dark adaptation, and the characteristics of this response suggest transient receptor potential (TRP) channel involvement. The investigators rationale is that a better understanding of how IR impacts vision may allow for an alternative mechanism for vision in a number of diseases that cause blindness from the degradation or loss of function of photoreceptor cells. The investigators will test the investigator's hypothesis with the following Aims:

Aim 1:

Arm 1: To determine the optimal IR wavelength for visual perception in dark-adapted human participants. The investigators hypothesize that the healthy human eye will detect IR irradiation, with a maximum sensitivity at a specific wavelength. Using a broad-spectrum light source with wavelength-specific bandpass filters, the spectral range of visual perception to IR will be evaluated.

Arm 2: To determine the optimal IR wavelength for visual perception in dark-adapted human participants who are colorblind. The investigators hypothesize that the colorblind human eye will detect IR irradiation, with a maximum sensitivity at a specific wavelength. Using a broad-spectrum light source with wavelength-specific bandpass filters, the spectral range of visual perception to IR will be evaluated.

Conditions

• Age Related Macular Degeneration
• Retinitis Pigmentosa
• Congenital Stationary Night Blindness
• Colorblindness

Interventions

OTHER

Tungsten halogen light with narrow bandpass filters

As intensity in increased from 0 to 12 V, participants will say if/when they see a visual response to infrared light from a broad band tungsten halogen light source that passes through narrow bandpass filters ranging from 850 nm to 1400 nm. At the end of three trials per filter, the intensity will be turned up to 12 V, and participants will describe the color they see.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• University of New Mexico

  lead OTHER

Principal Investigators

• Leslie Olivia Hopkins, MD · University of New Mexico

Study Design

Allocation

NON_RANDOMIZED

Purpose

DIAGNOSTIC

Masking

SINGLE

Model

PARALLEL

Eligibility

Min Age

18 Years

Sex

ALL

Healthy Volunteers

Yes

Timeline & Regulatory

Start

2015-09-30

Primary Completion

2016-08-31

Completion

2016-08-31

Countries

• United States

Study Locations