Grant: Project Grant

Vitreous hemorrhage (VH), or bleeding inside the eye, is a leading cause of sudden vision loss, particularly in people with diabetes. When blood leaks into the vitreous, the normally clear gel inside the eye, it can take months to clear on its own. Current treatment options are limited: watchful waiting, which leaves patients with prolonged vision loss, or surgery, which, while effective, is invasive and carries risks of serious complications. Despite advancements in eye care, no non-invasive treatment exists to accelerate VH clearance and restore vision earlier. This study investigates focused ultrasound (FUS) as a novel treatment for VH. FUS uses sound waves to non-invasively penetrate tissue and produce precise bioeffects deep within the eye, making it an ideal technology for VH treatment. Previous attempts to apply FUS for VH were hampered by poor efficacy and safety concerns due to excessive, non-localized heat generation. However, recent technological advancements now allow precise mechanical disruption (cavitation) while minimizing thermal effects. Our team is the first to demonstrate promising preliminary results using a custom-built FUS system optimized for these parameters. This study aims to further evaluate its ability to safely and effectively accelerate VH clearance. The research will address three key areas: 1. Safety: ensuring FUS does not harm adjacent eye structures 2. Efficacy: demonstrating its ability to significantly accelerate VH clearance, and 3. Mechanism of Action: understanding how FUS interacts with blood and vitreous to enhance clearance. This study is expected to lay the foundation for a non-invasive treatment that could revolutionize VH treatment, helping patients regain vision faster while reducing the need for surgery. These results will inform regulatory discussions and define data requirements for clinical trials, a key step towards making this sight-saving device available to patients everywhere in Canada and beyond.