Participants Needed for Diabetics Study

Pacifica Community Hospital in Huntington Beach is seeking volunteers to take part in a nationwide vision study in which participants would take a drug for four years in order to determine if blindness can be prevented in diabetics.

The drug, Trental, is a medication doctors believe may be helpful with eye complications in people who suffer from diabetes.

It has been used for years to treat blood-flow problems in legs and may slow or prevent blood-flow problems in the back of the eye, said Sunnie Bell, Pacifica’s director of community education.

Several people have signed up for the study. About 20 more are being sought.

People who want to participate must be diabetic, willing to submit to extensive eye and physical examinations once every three months, have no history of stomach or intestinal ulcers and no plans for pregnancy during the four-year study.

In addition, participants cannot be taking the drug Coumadin, because mixing Coumadin and Trental could cause hemorrhaging, Bell said.

About 10 other hospitals across the country are also conducting the Trental study, Bell said.

Another nationwide study will be conducted at Pacifica. It is open to anyone 65 or older and involves a complete eye examination, including pupil dilation, glaucoma test and vision analysis.

The study is intended to find out if vision correction is necessary.

To sign up for the studies, call (714) 841-5002 or attend a special seminar on eye problems in diabetics on April 23 at the hospital.