Clinical trials are research studies performed with human subjects to test and evaluate the effectiveness and safety of new medications, medical devices or specific procedures and treatments.

 These trials are used for comparison to standard treatments or to no treatment. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) requires clinical trials before it approves a new medication for physicians to prescribe to patients. Learn more…

All clinical trials have guidelines about who can participate. Research studies at the Clinical Research Center of Wheaton Eye Clinic (CRC-WEC) are open to the public.  Not all people diagnosed with a particular condition, who apply to a Wheaton Eye Clinic study, will qualify. Learn more…

Participants in clinical trials can play a more active role in their own health care, gain access to new research treatments before they are widely available, and help others by contributing to medical research. Learn more…

Clinical trials are conducted in four phases. Each phase has a different purpose and helps scientists answer different questions. Learn more…

The Clinical Research Manager and the participating physician explain the details of the study such as the purpose, duration, required procedures and key contacts. Risks and potential benefits are explained and the participant may withdraw from the trial at any time. Learn more…

The clinical trial process depends on the kind of trial being conducted. The clinical trial team includes doctors and ophthalmic technicians or technicians who check the health of the participant at the beginning of the trial, give instructions for continued participation in the trial and carefully monitor the participant during the trial.  Learn more…

As a participant you will be able to play a more active role in your own health care and gain access to new research treatments before they are widely available.  You also will help others by contributing to medical research. 

Some clinical trials also may provide diagnostic testing, close monitoring by a specialist physician, study medication and compensation for time and travel expenses.   Learn more…

Clinical trials follow a carefully controlled protocol, a study plan which details what researchers will do in the study. As a clinical trial progresses, researchers report the results of the trial at scientific meetings, to medical journals and to various government agencies. Individual participants’ names remain secret and are never mentioned in any reports or presentations.  Learn more…