All Podcast Better Eye Health Research By Damon Miller Share BETTER EYE HEALTH PODCAST - EPISODE 43Podcast: Download (Duration: 5:05 — 9.3MB)Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | RSS | More When you read about research into new treatments for conditions like macular degeneration, retinitis pigmentosa and Stargardt disease, you may hear about clinical trials and wonder if these are something that might help you. We discuss the long history of clinical trials for the treatment of eye disease. Our general recommendation based on long experience is to not rush to join any clinical trial, for two reasons. One is that almost all of the new treatments being researched involve significant risks. Until there is good data that the treatment offers real and lasting benefits that far outweigh the risks, don't be in a hurry to try it. Second, while you are waiting for medical research to find a magic bullet that will reverse serious degenerative eye disease, you can start a proven program of treatment where over 90% of people see lasting improvements in their vision. Link to Better Eye Health Program™As always you will find the link to the Podcast, as well as the full transcript. You can also download a PDF of the transcript down at the bottom the page. Enjoy! Does It Help To Join A Clinical Trial? BEH PODCAST EPISODE 43 DOES IT HELP ME TO JOIN A CLINICAL TRIAL? Today, we will cover the last of our “should ask” questions that I propose people should ask. This involves a more general discussion, and the question today looks at whether it is advisable for people to involve themselves in a clinical trial, specifically for their eyes, or really for anything medical. In general, my recommendation is no. Do not involve yourself in a clinical trial.About the only time I recommend a clinical trail is if you had a truly life-threatening disease where the only possible chance of survival involved enrolling in a clinical trial. Even then, my answer is still a qualified maybe. If that situation arose, we’d have to talk. THE ISSUE WITH CLINICAL TRIALSThe whole discussion of clinical trials is complicated by the controversial nature of medical research. Controversial in terms of how studies are set up. Controversial in terms of what even is the placebo. The simplest way to think about this, and what I propose to you, is not encouraging someone to run to the front of the line for a new and unproven study.In a clinical study, there is a very good likelihood will end up placed in the non-treated group, the placebo group. You might go through a lot of time and a lot of effort and not even really receive any kind of treatment. This delays your chance to do something positive for yourself. There is another reason, which connects to changes in clinical studies. In the old days, it was considered a great favor to the field of medicine and medical research if you stepped forward to take part in a clinical study. Now, clinical studies number one design focuses on getting a drug on the market. There’s virtually no clinical research for any of the kinds of therapies and treatments that I propose as a first line of therapy for most diseases.THERE IS A COST They are also not free anymore. Very often, you pay for the meds, the visits and even some of the lab tests. Alternatively, they might charge your insurance company, so you pay the copays. In addition there is a huge amount of time involved: invasive studies, lab work, blood sticks, meal sticks and even the possibility of paying for the doctor’s time. I’m glad that studies are done in general, but this is why I’m not a big proponent of many of these studies. OTHER FACTORSAnother issue is many studies are now done overseas. They are done in 3rd world countries. Part of the reason is connected to cost. You can pay people a small stipend, a small token to get them involved. The bad news of that setup is that when a study doesn’t work out, the data, including adverse effects is hidden. The drug companies are very selective about only showing you results that they think are positive and that benefit their product. Downloads BETTER EYE HEALTH PODCAST - EPISODE 43DOWNLOAD DOES IT HELP TO JOIN A CLINICAL TRAIL?BETTER EYE HEALTH PODCAST - EPISODE 43DOWNLOAD TRANSCRIPT
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