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Retinal and Choroidal Circulation Changes Following Rapid Ascent to a High Altitude Environment

Retinal and Choroidal Circulation Changes Following Rapid Ascent to a High Altitude Environment Evaluated by OCT Angiography

Status
Completed
Phases
Unknown
Study type
Observational
Source
ClinicalTrials.gov
Registry ID
NCT04491500
Enrollment
13
Registered
2020-07-29
Start date
2020-07-27
Completion date
2020-09-10
Last updated
2020-09-16

For informational purposes only — not medical advice. Sourced from public registries and may not reflect the latest updates. Terms

Conditions

High Altitude Retinopathy

Brief summary

This is a prospective observational study. The purpose is to explore the effect of high altitude hypobaric hypoxia on retinal microcirculation and the change of the thickness of the retina and choroid by optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA).

Detailed description

Yushu is in Qinghai-Tibet plateau, an average altitude of 4000 m. The medical staff is limited in Yushu. Zhongshan ophthalmic center, sun yat-sen university in Yushu blindness project has lasted many years. Some medical staff who arrived at Yushu will have a plateau response. The high altitude hypoxia on retinal microcirculation evaluated by OCTA has not been reported. The aim of the study is to observe the microcirculation changes after exploring a hypobaric and hypoxia environment using OCTA, and relation with the plateau response. OCTA is a non-invasive examination and could see the microcirculation of the fundus directly and quickly.

Interventions

BEHAVIORALHigh attitude environment

The participants will go to 4000m altitude to work for two weeks.

Sponsors

Zhongshan Ophthalmic Center, Sun Yat-sen University
Lead SponsorOTHER

Study design

Observational model
OTHER
Time perspective
PROSPECTIVE

Eligibility

Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
18 Years to 70 Years

Inclusion criteria

1. The subjects who plan to go to Yushu within one month. 2. Did not live on the high altitude of more than 1000 meters within 6 months.

Exclusion criteria

1. Unable and unwilling to provide informed consent. 2. Any ocular disease may influence the retinal and choroidal circulation.

Design outcomes

Primary

MeasureTime frameDescription
retinal microcirculation changes1 monththe vascular density measured by OCTA

Secondary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Choroidal thickness changes1 monththe subfoveal choroidal thickness measured by OCTA
The correlation of retinal microcirculation with the altitude illness1 monthThe relationship between retinal vascular density as measured by OCTA and the degree of altitude illness as measured by acute mountain sickness (AMS) scoring system
The changes of intraocular pressure1 monthThe changes of intraocular pressure measured by icare Tonometer
Retinal thickness changes1 monththe retinal thickness measured by OCTA
The changes of blood oxygen1 monthThe changes of blood Oxygen measured by Pulse Oximeter
the degree of altitude illness1 monththe degree of altitude illness was assessed by acute mountain sickness (AMS) scoring system
The changes of blood pressure including systolic and diastolic Blood Pressure1 monthThe changes of blood pressure measured by Blood Pressure Meter

Countries

China

Outcome results

None listed

Source: ClinicalTrials.gov · Data processed: Feb 4, 2026