Assessing visual frailty in older adults with age-related macular degeneration

Seeing Through Their Eyes - Towards Defining Visual Frailty in Ageing

Observational University of Edinburgh · NCT06604104

This study is trying to see if a new tool can help understand how vision problems affect older adults with advanced age-related macular degeneration and their overall health.

Quick facts

Study typeObservational
Enrollment20 (estimated)
Ages60 Years and up
SexAll
SponsorUniversity of Edinburgh Academic / other
Locations2 sites (Edinburgh, Scotland and 1 other locations)
Trial IDNCT06604104 on ClinicalTrials.gov

What this trial studies

This observational study aims to define and assess visual frailty in individuals aged 60 and above diagnosed with advanced Age-related Macular Degeneration (AMD). It will pilot a visual frailty assessment tool that evaluates visual acuity, reading performance, functional status, mental health, and systemic co-morbidities. Over three years, the study will involve literature review, participant recruitment, and validation of the assessment tool, with data collected from patients at various NHS Lothian facilities. The study seeks to establish the relationship between visual frailty and other health factors in the ageing population.

Who should consider this trial

Good fit: Ideal candidates are residents of Scotland aged 60 and above with a known diagnosis of advanced Age-related Macular Degeneration who have been receiving treatment for at least six months.

Not a fit: Patients who cannot speak or read English, have undergone invasive ocular surgery recently, or cannot provide informed consent may not benefit from this study.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this study could lead to improved assessment and management of visual frailty, enhancing the quality of life for older adults with AMD.

How similar studies have performed: While the concept of visual frailty is emerging, this specific approach to assessing it in the context of AMD is novel and has not been extensively tested in prior studies.

Eligibility criteria

Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria:

* Participants should be residents of Scotland aged 60 years and above with a known diagnosis of advanced AMD.
* The patients should be receiving treatment from Princess Alexandra Eye Pavilion (PAEP) for at least 6 months and should be responding positively to the treatment. This is to rule out poor results due to either not receiving medication or non-compliance.
* The participants should be able to provide informed consent before taking part in the study.

Exclusion Criteria:

* Participants who cannot speak and read English language will not be included in this pilot study. However, non-English speakers will be included in the future together with interpreters at the validation phase of the developed tool.
* Participants who have undergone invasive ocular surgery like cataract extraction in their previous visit.
* The potential participants who fail to provide or do not provide informed consent will not be included in the study.

Where this trial is running

Edinburgh, Scotland and 1 other locations

Study contacts

How to participate

  1. Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
  2. Visit the official trial page on ClinicalTrials.gov for the most current contact information and recruitment status.
  3. Contact the listed study coordinator or principal investigator to request pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.
Conditions FrailtyAge-Related Macular DegenerationFunctional StatusMental HealthDepressionAnxietyCognitive ImpairmentVisual Impairment
Last reviewed 2026-06-13 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.