Clinical Trials
As of 5/2025 Visualeyes Optometry is partaking in a few different clinical trials. They all have different scheduling and pre-testing requirements, so it is important to get wich trial the patient is coming in for at the time of the appointment. As the technician, you usually take charge of these
patients, as the front office is usually less aware of the trial specifics.
Scheduling
Dr. Dodge needs to be the provider attending to all of these patients.
Sometimes, these exams are booked as normal PCE’s on accident as the patient is unaware there is a specific trial they are connected to.
Diabetic Retinopathy (Accella Clinical Research)
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This is generally the simpler clinical trial to complete. In this case we are checking for general signs of diabetic retinopathy.
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Most of the time the patients will call directly to make these appointments.
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Tests to Perform Before Seeing Dr. Dodge
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Optos Plus Photoshotos
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IOP with the Tonopen
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Dr. Dodge will then perform a posterior segment eval with the slit lamp.
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Dr. Dodge will then have the correct sheet to fill out. Generally, the office will follow up with an email asking about the form and will find time to pick it up.
Ocular Health Check, including Specular Microscopy (CenExel CNR)
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These appointments are made directly with the clinical trial staff. These usually come in the form of an email with the patient’s first and last name, date of birth, and their 4-digit ID that is attached to the trial.
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Once the patient is in the office we can complete the demographics on file with them.
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Tests to Perform Before Seeing Dr. Dodge
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Light blue sheets are in the front desk drawer with all the required testing for each trial appointment.
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There is a provided E board that you will plug into and turn on. You will sit a seat for the patient and perform their Visual Acuity with aid if applicable, meaning they should be wearing their glasses or contacts.
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Once this is done, advise the patient to remove any eyewear and obtain pressure with the tonopen.
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Specular Microscopy (Konan Machine)
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This machine sits in the lab when the OCT is in the office, or by room 2 when we do not have the OCT.
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The Konan machine has a workbook that can be found in the AOL email. The handbook has all the steps necessary to complete the exam, but there is also a "cheat sheet" lying atop the machine’s table. On the cheat sheet, simplified instructions are laid out.
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Procedures:
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To have a place to upload your images, take one of the provided USBs and plug it into the tech computer. In the USB file, you will need to create a folder for each of the clinical trial patients. The folders always have the same beginning sequence (KOA1301-059-) and ends with the patient’s ID number, the letters SM, and the date of the exam. For example, if the patient’s number is 0002 and they are being seen on March 1 st , 2025, the total folder name will be KOA1301-059-0002SM01mar2025. Once you have made the folder, remove the USB from the computer and insert it into the attached cord on the Konan machine.
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To set up the Konan machine for patient photos, the cheat sheet lists out the required formats. First the patients ID which is the same KOA1301-059- with the patient ID as the last four digits. The first name will be the same as the patient’s ID. Last name will always be KOA1, and gender will always be male. Lastly, the date of the exam will always be entered as 01/01/1920.
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The patient will rest their chin onto the machine, and it can do the rest itself.
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Images show up as little green cells and once you have three of each eye, save all the images. You will have the option to save to a folder, where you will select the name of the folder you made on the computer prior to testing. At this point, the patient can go back to the exam room to sit with the doctor.
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If you haveany questions, you can contact Daphne at d.strano@cenexel.com or Jessica atj.vuong@cenexel.com. The office is across the parking lot, so they are easily accessible.