Retinal imaging to detect systemic inflammation in endometriosis
Official title: Retinal Imaging for the Assessment of Systemic Inflammation in Endometriosis
Run by University of Edinburgh · NCT07232485 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project will test whether quick, noninvasive eye scans can show signs of systemic inflammation in women and people assigned female at birth who have endometriosis by comparing their retinal images with those of similar people without endometriosis.
Quick facts
| Study type | Observational |
|---|---|
| Ages | 18 Years and up |
| Sex | Women only |
| Enrollment | 100 (estimated) |
| Sponsor | University of Edinburgh Academic / other |
| Drugs / interventions | radiation |
| Locations | 1 site (Edinburgh, Scotland) |
| Status | Recruiting |
| Started | September 3, 2025 |
| Main results expected | August 2029 |
| Study ends | September 2029 |
| Registry record updated | October 21, 2026 |
| Trial ID | NCT07232485 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
Is this trial a fit for you?
✓Likely a good fit
Ideal candidates are people aged 18 or older who are pre-menopausal and assigned female at birth, either with a surgical or imaging diagnosis of endometriosis within the past five years or healthy volunteers with no history of endometriosis or chronic pelvic pain.
✕Probably not a fit
People with existing ocular diseases that affect retinal structure (for example glaucoma, optic neuropathy, optic neuritis, or significant cataract), known reproductive tract malignancy, recent large blood donation, or those whose endometriosis diagnosis is older than five years may not be eligible or likely to benefit.
A plain-English reading of the study's rules. Only the study team can confirm whether you qualify.
What this trial studies
This is an exploratory case-control study at the Queen's Medical Research Institute, Edinburgh, comparing retinal scans from people with endometriosis to age-matched people without the condition. Participants undergo noninvasive imaging including optical coherence tomography (OCT), OCT angiography (OCT-A), and ultra-widefield (UWF) imaging, with the eye-imaging visit taking about 30–40 minutes and the full visit around one hour. Those with endometriosis also complete a brief EHP-30 quality-of-life questionnaire and may give a small blood sample to measure markers such as C-reactive protein. The study will analyze retinal structure and microvascular features to see if they correlate with systemic inflammation in endometriosis.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this approach could offer a quick, painless way to monitor systemic inflammation and disease activity in people with endometriosis without invasive tests.
How similar studies have gone: Retinal imaging has successfully detected microvascular and inflammatory changes in other systemic conditions such as diabetes and cardiovascular disease, but applying these techniques specifically to endometriosis is largely novel and exploratory.
Who can join: the full rules
Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria:
1. Participants with a previous surgical or imaging diagnosis of endometriosis
* Pre-menopausal women and those assigned female at birth
* Aged 18 years and over
* A past surgical or imaging diagnosis of endometriosis within the last 5 years from date of consent
* Ability to understand and willingness to sign the informed consent form
2. Healthy volunteers
* Women and those assigned female at birth
* Aged 18 years and over
* No history of endometriosis or chronic pelvic pain
* Ability to understand and willingness to sign the informed consent form
Exclusion Criteria:
1. Participants with a previous surgical or imaging diagnosis of endometriosis
* The subject has donated blood (450 ml) within the last 4 weeks
* Known reproductive tract malignancy
* Ocular Diseases:
* Subjects with clinically diagnosed glaucoma, optic neuropathy, optic neuritis, cataracts, or other conditions that affect the ocular structures.
* Subjects with age-related macular degeneration, retinal vascular diseases, or other retinal disorders.
* Subjects with any other ocular conditions that may influence the retinal or optic nerve structure.
* Refractive Errors:
* Subjects with high myopia (\>6 diopters) or high hyperopia (\>3 diopters).
* Subjects with significant astigmatism (\>2 dioptres) or other refractive errors.
* Ocular Surgery History: Subjects with a history of ocular surgery, particularly involving the lens, cornea, retina, or optic nerve (e.g., laser vision correction, retinal surgeries, etc.).
* Subjects with significant ocular trauma, corneal abnormalities, or active ocular infections that may interfere with OCT imaging.
* Subjects with diabetes mellitus
2. Healthy volunteers
* The subject has donated blood (450 ml) within the last 4 weeks
* Known reproductive tract malignancy
* A history of symptoms suggestive of endometriosis or chronic pelvic pain
* Ocular Diseases:
* Subjects with clinically diagnosed glaucoma, optic neuropathy, optic neuritis, cataracts, or other conditions that affect the ocular structures.
* Subjects with age-related macular degeneration, retinal vascular diseases, or other retinal disorders.
* Subjects with any other ocular conditions that may influence the retinal or optic nerve structure.
* Refractive Errors:
* Subjects with high myopia (\>-6 dioptres) or high hyperopia (\>+6 dioptres).
* Subjects with significant astigmatism (\>2 dioptres) or other refractive errors.
* Ocular Surgery History: Subjects with a history of ocular surgery, particularly involving the lens, cornea, retina, or optic nerve (e.g., laser vision correction, retinal surgeries, etc.).
* Subjects with significant ocular trauma, corneal abnormalities, or active ocular infections that may interfere with OCT imaging.
* Subjects with diabetes mellitus
Where it's running
-
University of Edinburgh
Edinburgh, Scotland, United Kingdom Recruiting
Study contacts
- Principal investigator: Andrew Horne — University of Edinburgh
- Study coordinator: Kexin Dong
- Email: K.Dong-2@sms.ed.ac.uk
- Phone: +447301394870
Similar studies
Other studies for the same condition or treatment. Recruiting studies are listed first.
-
Comparing different techniques to treat endometriosis
This study is testing different methods to treat endometriosis, like laser and heat techniques, to see which one works best for relieving pain in women who are already having surgery for the condition.
-
Postoperative Pain Trajectories After Endometriosis Surgery
This study tests how pain changes after endometriosis surgery and whether perioperative pain testing can predict who will have ongoing pain.
-
Imaging endometriosis with a special PET tracer in adult women
This study tests whether a PET/CT scan using [18F]AlF-FAPI-74 can help detect endometriosis lesions in women who are planning laparoscopy.
-
Fiber supplement for digestive symptoms in endometriosis
A fiber-based supplement is being tested to see if it is safe and helps with gut and vaginal microbiomes and digestive symptoms in women with endometriosis.
-
Stellate ganglion block and dexmedetomidine for better sleep after gynecologic laparoscopy
The study tests whether giving a preoperative stellate ganglion block plus intraoperative dexmedetomidine improves sleep after laparoscopic gynecologic surgery in women.
-
Atypical Endometriosis: Histology, Immunophenotype and Molecular Features
Researchers will look at how endometriotic tissue that looks atypical under the microscope relates to clinical features and ultrasound findings to better separate benign from potentially atypical lesions.
How to take part
- Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
- Check the official listing on ClinicalTrials.gov for the latest contact details and recruitment status.
- Contact the study coordinator or principal investigator to ask for pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.