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Deep Brain Stimulation for Eye Movement in Parkinson's Disease

This observational study is looking at how Deep Brain Stimulation (DBS) affects eye movements in people with Parkinson's disease. Specifically, it's focused on "vergence impairment," which is difficulty aligning and refocusing your eyes on objects at different distances. Researchers want to understand which areas of the brain, when stimulated by DBS, best improve eye coordination and vergence, while still helping with motor symptoms like tremor and stiffness. You may be able to join if you have Parkinson's disease, have already had bilateral STN DBS surgery, and have specific brain scan images available. The study aims to enroll 40 participants to learn more about how DBS can improve vision problems in Parkinson's.

Study design
This is an observational study that plans to enroll 40 participants. It is not specified if it is a specific phase of research.
What's involved
Your eye alignment will be measured once during a one-hour experiment. You will need to have pre-operative MR images and be able to get post-operative MRI or CT scans.
Compensation
Not stated in the trial record.
Follow-up
Your eye alignment will be measured once at the time of the experiment, for 1 hour.

AI-generated from the public study record. Only the study team can confirm whether you're eligible — confirm details with them before making decisions.

NCT05400499

Deep Brain Stimulation for Visuomotor Function in Parkinson's Disease

Recruiting
Not specifiedAll AgesObservational
VA Office of Research and Development
~40 participants
Updated 2026-01-07 on ClinicalTrials.gov

At a glance

Recruiting sites
1 of 1 listed site is recruiting right now
RecruitingSuspended, closed, or not yet open
What they're measuring
Eye alignment
Measured over once at the time of experiment, for 1 hour

Conditions

Parkinson's Disease

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Parkinson Disease

NCT05400499

Where you'd take part

This study runs at 1 site. They're the same protocol — you choose where, and that choice sets who your contact draft is addressed to.

  • Louis Stokes VA Medical Center, Cleveland, OH

    Cleveland, Ohiostudy coordinator listed

    Recruiting

Sites open and close at different times, so the status above is per site — it can differ from the study's overall status.

Study leadership

  • Aasef G. Shaikh, MD PhD · PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR · Louis Stokes VA Medical Center, Cleveland, OH

Who to contact

Aasef G Shaikh, MD PhD
[email protected]
(216) 791-3800 · ext. 60000
Email the study team

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Eligibility criteria

Inclusion

Parkinson's disease with bilateral STN DBS
Availability of pre-operative MR images (with a T1-weighted, gradient-echo sequence) and ability to get post-operative MRI or CT scans
Hoehn and Yahr stage 2-4 when off medication, and a stable antiparkinsonian medication regimen and DBS parameter settings

Exclusion

Previous surgical therapy for Parkinson's disease (other than DBS)
Dementia
Clinically significant untreated depression or anxiety
Clinical features suggestive of atypical parkinsonism

What this trial measures

  • Eye alignmentonce at the time of experiment, for 1 hour

    The investigators will measure dynamic eye alignment (vergence, the difference between the horizontal angular positions of the right and left eye) with non-invasive high-resolution video oculography. Derives parameters such as ratio of actual versus desired vergence, delay of vergence onset after target shift, peak vergence velocity, and congruency between the two eyes will be incorporated in an equation. The equation output will be used as a measure of the effects of subthalamic region deep brain stimulation on vergence parameters.