Choroidal IschemiaPhase 2NCT04356716
Sildenafil for Treatment of Choroidal Ischemia
A Phase 2 study testing Sildenafil, Ocular Coherence Tomography-Angiography (OCT-A) and Visual Acuity (VA) in people with Choroidal Ischemia and Vitelliform Macular Dystrophy, run by Columbia University at 1 site in United States.
Trial summary
The hypothesis of this study is to determine if there is a benefit afforded by the use of systemic Sildenafil to patients with choroidal and retinal degenerations and dystrophies, such as vitelliform degeneration, dry and reticular age-related macular degeneration (AMD) as well as patients with hereditary and acquired… Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 18 years and older
- Conditions the study is for
- Choroidal Ischemia, Vitelliform Macular Dystrophy, Age-related Macular Degeneration
- What is being tested?
- Sildenafil, Ocular Coherence Tomography-Angiography (OCT-A) and Visual Acuity (VA)
- Could I receive a placebo?
- No, everyone receives an active treatment
- How many people
- 22 participants
- Where
- 1 siteUnited States
- Study dates
- 11 Nov 2014to 18 Feb 2020
- Phase
- Phase 2
- Are there results?
- Yes, posted in the registrySummary in the doctors' view
Key requirements
Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.
- Ages 18 years and older
- All sexes
- No healthy volunteers
- Adult, Older adult
Who may be able to join
- Diagnosis of retinal and choroidal degenerations (reticular or vitelliform AMD or vitelliform-type subretinal drusen) or hereditary or acquired retinal dystrophies (retinitis pigmentosa or central serous retinopathy)
Who cannot join
- Diagnosis of heart disease requiring use of nitrates
- Inability to be examined monthly or bi-monthly
Trial locations and contacts
1 site in 1 country.
United States1 site
Columbia University Medical Center, Edward Harkness Eye Institute
New York, New York, 10032
About this study
The hypothesis of this study is to determine if there is a benefit afforded by the use of systemic Sildenafil to patients with choroidal and retinal degenerations and dystrophies, such as vitelliform degeneration, dry and reticular age-related macular degeneration (AMD) as well as patients with hereditary and acquired retinal dystrophies such as retinitis pigmentosa and central serous retinopathy.
Read the detailed description
Age-Related Macular Degeneration (AMD) is a sight-threatening visual disturbance that affects the macula in older ages. It is irreversible if the pigment epithelium is lost (dry AMD), but wet AMD can be arrested or delayed with the use of intraocular injections of one of 3 different compounds. All three drugs are injected into the eye in minute doses of usually 0.1 ml. These are usually injected at 4 to 6 week intervals and treatment may be extended for several years. Different patterns of injection times are followed but usually are monthly for 12 or more months, or monthly for 3 months and then extended observation at one to two month intervals unless vision (visual acuity) declines or Optical Coherence Tomography-angiography (OCT-A) shows recurrence of fluid or increase in size or amount of drusen (deposits of lipofuscin) in the retina. Vitelliform macular degeneration is a disorder that causes visual loss due to drusen in the macula, which have been shown to be identical to the deposits seen in macular degeneration. The goal of therapy in this proposal is to use sildenafil to increase choroidal blood flow to treat dry AMD and slow the progression of visual loss in vitelliform and age-related dry AMD as well as other macular, retinal and choroidal degenerations and dystrophies, as well as reduce or eliminate the number of injections required by slowing down transformation of dry AMD to wet AMD in treated patients.
- Conditions
- Choroidal Ischemia, Vitelliform Macular Dystrophy, Age-related Macular Degeneration, Central Serous Retinopathy, Retinitis Pigmentosa
- Being tested
- Sildenafil, Standard of Care Sildenafil, Ocular Coherence Tomography-Angiography (OCT-A), Visual Acuity (VA)
- Keywords
- Sildenafil, Viagra, Revatio
- Medical subject headings
- Vitelliform Macular Dystrophy, Macular Degeneration, Central Serous Chorioretinopathy, Retinitis Pigmentosa
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
SildenafilDrug
Also called Viagra, Revatio
Initial Sildenafil dosage will be weight dependent. Participants will start at 40 mg daily (20mg in the morning, 20 mg in the evening) or 60 mg daily (40mg in the morning and 20 mg in the evening). Sildenafil dosage may be increased to up to 80mg daily (20-40mg in the morning and 20-40mg in the evening) based on the response to lower doses. If the participant has not had improvement after initial treatment, the dose may be increased, at the discretion of the study physician.
Standard of Care SildenafilOther
Also called Viagra, Revatio
Medical record review of participants that receive Sildenafil as part of standard of care.
Ocular Coherence Tomography-Angiography (OCT-A)Diagnostic test
Retinal photographs will be taken at each study visit.
Visual Acuity (VA)Other
Visual acuity will be measured with Snellen Eye Chart at each study visit.
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| Standard of Care Sildenafil | Active comparator | Medical record review for participants that are prescribed Sildenafil off-label as part of standard of care treatment for disease. Receives: Other: Standard of Care Sildenafil |
| Sildenafil | Active comparator | Participants are prescribed sildenafil 40-80 mg daily. Receives: Drug: Sildenafil; Diagnostic Test: Ocular Coherence Tomography-Angiography (OCT-A); Other: Visual Acuity (VA) |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
Change in Visual Acuity (Sildenafil Group)
Patients are evaluated for progression of disease/dystrophy via visual acuity (improved/stable/worsened) and appearance of fluid layer and drusen on OCT testing.
Measured: Up to 63 months
Change in Visual Acuity (Medical Record Review Group)
Patients are evaluated for progression of disease/dystrophy via visual acuity (improved/stable/worsened) and appearance of fluid layer and drusen on OCT testing.
Measured: 22 months
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted22 Apr 2020
- Study start11 Nov 2014
- Primary completion18 Feb 2020
- Study completion18 Feb 2020
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Posted resultsParticipant flow, outcome measures and adverse events reported by the sponsor.
- Publications (2)Papers the sponsor has linked to this study.
- Other trials for Choroidal IschemiaStudies of the same condition, open and under way.
- More trials run by Columbia UniversityThe sponsor's other registered studies.
- What the trial phases meanHow a treatment moves from first tests in people to approval.
More details
For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.
Study design
- Study type
- Interventional
- Phase
- Phase 2
- Primary purpose
- Treatment
- Allocation
- Non-randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Model description
- Participants are assigned to the investigational sildenafil arm with a dose of 40-80mg daily, or the records review arm when taking sildenafil off-label.
- Masking
- None (open label)
- Enrolment
- 22 participants (actual)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- Columbia University
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Responsible party
- Principal investigator, Donald Coleman, Columbia University
- Investigators
- Donald Jackson Coleman, MD, Principal investigator, Columbia University
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT04356716
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- AAAM7406
- Status last verified
- Jul 2025
- First submitted
- 20 Apr 2020
- Last updated
- 4 Jul 2025
- Results posted
- Yes, on ClinicalTrials.gov
- Data monitoring committee
- No
- FDA-regulated drug
- Yes
- FDA-regulated device
- No
Publications
Coleman DJ, Silverman RH, Rondeau MJ, Lloyd HO, Khanifar AA, Chan RV. Age-related macular degeneration: choroidal ischaemia? Br J Ophthalmol. 2013 Aug;97(8):1020-3. doi: 10.1136/bjophthalmol-2013-303143. Epub 2013 Jun 5.
PubMed 23740965Coleman DJ, Lee W, Chang S, Silverman RH, Lloyd HO, Daly S, Tsang SH. Treatment of Macular Degeneration with Sildenafil: Results of a Two-Year Trial. Ophthalmologica. 2018;240(1):45-54. doi: 10.1159/000486105. Epub 2018 Apr 25.
PubMed 29694963
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 4 Jul 2025. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- Sildenafil for Treatment of Choroidal Ischemia
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT04356716
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- AAAM7406
- Conditions
- Choroidal Ischemia, Vitelliform Macular Dystrophy, Age-related Macular Degeneration, Central Serous Retinopathy, Retinitis Pigmentosa
- Keywords
- Sildenafil, Viagra, Revatio
- Phase
- Phase 2
- Study type
- Interventional
- Recruitment status
- Completed
- Enrolment
- 22 participants (actual)
- Lead sponsor
- Columbia UniversityUniversity, hospital or other
- Study start
- 11 Nov 2014 (actual)
- Primary completion
- 18 Feb 2020 (actual)
- Study completion
- 18 Feb 2020 (actual)
- First posted
- 22 Apr 2020 (actual)
- Results
- Posted 4 Jul 2025
Clinical summary
The research question as the sponsor registered it. This describes what the study plans to test, not what it found.
The hypothesis of this study is to determine if there is a benefit afforded by the use of systemic Sildenafil to patients with choroidal and retinal degenerations and dystrophies, such as vitelliform degeneration, dry and reticular age-related macular degeneration (AMD) as well as patients with hereditary and acquired retinal dystrophies such as retinitis pigmentosa and central serous retinopathy.
Detailed description
Age-Related Macular Degeneration (AMD) is a sight-threatening visual disturbance that affects the macula in older ages. It is irreversible if the pigment epithelium is lost (dry AMD), but wet AMD can be arrested or delayed with the use of intraocular injections of one of 3 different compounds. All three drugs are injected into the eye in minute doses of usually 0.1 ml. These are usually injected at 4 to 6 week intervals and treatment may be extended for several years. Different patterns of injection times are followed but usually are monthly for 12 or more months, or monthly for 3 months and then extended observation at one to two month intervals unless vision (visual acuity) declines or Optical Coherence Tomography-angiography (OCT-A) shows recurrence of fluid or increase in size or amount of drusen (deposits of lipofuscin) in the retina. Vitelliform macular degeneration is a disorder that causes visual loss due to drusen in the macula, which have been shown to be identical to the deposits seen in macular degeneration. The goal of therapy in this proposal is to use sildenafil to increase choroidal blood flow to treat dry AMD and slow the progression of visual loss in vitelliform and age-related dry AMD as well as other macular, retinal and choroidal degenerations and dystrophies, as well as reduce or eliminate the number of injections required by slowing down transformation of dry AMD to wet AMD in treated patients.
Study design
- Primary purpose
- Treatment
- Allocation
- Non-randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- None (open label)
- Number of arms
- 2
- Model description
- Participants are assigned to the investigational sildenafil arm with a dose of 40-80mg daily, or the records review arm when taking sildenafil off-label.
| Arm | Type | Receives |
|---|---|---|
| Standard of Care Sildenafil | Active comparator | Other: Standard of Care SildenafilMedical record review for participants that are prescribed Sildenafil off-label as part of standard of care treatment for disease. |
| Sildenafil | Active comparator | Drug: Sildenafil, Diagnostic Test: Ocular Coherence Tomography-Angiography (OCT-A), Other: Visual Acuity (VA)Participants are prescribed sildenafil 40-80 mg daily. |
Who may qualify
- Ages
- 18 years and older
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Not accepted
- Age groups
- Adult, Older adult
Key inclusion criteria (1 listed)
- Diagnosis of retinal and choroidal degenerations (reticular or vitelliform AMD or vitelliform-type subretinal drusen) or hereditary or acquired retinal dystrophies (retinitis pigmentosa or central serous retinopathy)
Key exclusion criteria (2 listed)
- Diagnosis of heart disease requiring use of nitrates
- Inability to be examined monthly or bi-monthly
Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening; this overview does not establish that a patient qualifies. Full inclusion and exclusion criteria.
Interventions
| Intervention | Type | Arms |
|---|---|---|
| SildenafilAlso: Viagra, RevatioInitial Sildenafil dosage will be weight dependent. Participants will start at 40 mg daily (20mg in the morning, 20 mg in the evening) or 60 mg daily (40mg in the morning and 20 mg in the evening). Sildenafil dosage may be increased to up to 80mg daily (20-40mg in the morning and 20-40mg in the evening) based on the response to lower doses. If the participant has not had improvement after initial treatment, the dose may be increased, at the discretion of the study physician. | Drug | Sildenafil |
| Standard of Care SildenafilAlso: Viagra, RevatioMedical record review of participants that receive Sildenafil as part of standard of care. | Other | Standard of Care Sildenafil |
| Ocular Coherence Tomography-Angiography (OCT-A)Retinal photographs will be taken at each study visit. | Diagnostic test | Sildenafil |
| Visual Acuity (VA)Visual acuity will be measured with Snellen Eye Chart at each study visit. | Other | Sildenafil |
Primary outcome
Change in Visual Acuity (Sildenafil Group)
Time frame: Up to 63 months
Patients are evaluated for progression of disease/dystrophy via visual acuity (improved/stable/worsened) and appearance of fluid layer and drusen on OCT testing.
Change in Visual Acuity (Medical Record Review Group)
Time frame: 22 months
Patients are evaluated for progression of disease/dystrophy via visual acuity (improved/stable/worsened) and appearance of fluid layer and drusen on OCT testing.
Results and safety
Loading the posted results from ClinicalTrials.gov…
Research links
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govLast updated by the sponsor 4 Jul 2025.
- Posted resultsParticipant flow, baseline, all outcome measures and adverse events.
- Background: PubMed 23740965Coleman DJ, Silverman RH, Rondeau MJ, Lloyd HO, Khanifar AA, Chan RV. Age-related macular degeneration: choroidal ischaemia? Br J Ophthalmol. 2013 Aug;97(8):1020-3. doi: 10.1136/bjophthalmol-2013-303143. Epub 2013 Jun 5.
- Background: PubMed 29694963Coleman DJ, Lee W, Chang S, Silverman RH, Lloyd HO, Daly S, Tsang SH. Treatment of Macular Degeneration with Sildenafil: Results of a Two-Year Trial. Ophthalmologica. 2018;240(1):45-54. doi: 10.1159/000486105. Epub 2018 Apr 25.
Referral and contact
AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals. Contact the study team or a site listed below; they decide who can take part. This study is not recruiting at the moment.
Donald Jackson Coleman, MD principal investigator
Columbia University
1 site in 1 country: see every site and its status.
Questions about this trial
What is this clinical trial studying?
A Phase 2 study testing Sildenafil, Ocular Coherence Tomography-Angiography (OCT-A) and Visual Acuity (VA) in people with Choroidal Ischemia and Vitelliform Macular Dystrophy, run by Columbia University at 1 site in United States.
The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.
Who may be eligible to take part?
The sponsor lists 1 inclusion and 2 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.
Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?
The record says: finished, as of the sponsor's last update on 4 Jul 2025. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.
Where is the study taking place?
The record lists 1 site in United States. Whether a site is taking part right now should be confirmed with that site. See every site.
What are the possible benefits and risks?
They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.
What does this phase mean?
Phase 2 studies give the treatment to a larger group to see whether it has the intended effect and to keep checking safety.
Not every study follows the same path, and some studies (observational studies, device studies) have no phase.
Are results available for this study?
Yes. Results are posted in the registry (first posted 4 Jul 2025). A summary is in the For doctors view, and the full results are on ClinicalTrials.gov.
How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?
The record lists no contact. The official record names the sponsor, who can be asked directly. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.
What does the primary outcome measure?
Change in Visual Acuity (Sildenafil Group) (time frame: Up to 63 months). The study lists 2 primary outcomes in all. It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.
Where can I read the original study information?
On the ClinicalTrials.gov record for NCT04356716, which also lists 2 linked publications.
Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?
No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.
How often is this information updated?
AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 4 Jul 2025; AzTrials last refreshed its copy on 7 Nov 2026.