Goblet Cell Response and Dry Eye Symptoms After PRK and LASIK (NCT00411827) | Clinical Trial Compass
CompletedNot Applicable
Goblet Cell Response and Dry Eye Symptoms After PRK and LASIK
United States146 participantsStarted 2008-01
Plain-language summary
Purpose: To develop a screening metric by examining both the characteristics of the preoperative tear film and the intracellular signaling pathways of conjunctival goblet cells in order to determine if there are certain characteristics which might predict those patients who will experience serious dry eye symptoms and complications after refractive surgery.
Research Design: This study is a twelve-month prospective non-randomized investigation.
Methodology: In conjunction with psychometric questionnaires and various measures of tear film quality (e.g. Schirmer's test, tear break up time, etc), impression cytology will be used to assess the intracellular signaling pathways of conjunctival goblet cells and to determine if alterations in this pathway exist. Alterations in this pathway would result in a reduced response by the mucin secreting conjunctival goblet cells thereby promoting the development of dry eye after refractive surgery.
Who can participate
Age range
21 Years – 40 Years
Sex
ALL
See this in plain English?
AI-rewrites the medical criteria so a patient or caregiver can understand them. Always confirm with the trial site.
Inclusion criteria
. Male or female, of any race, and at least 21 years old and not older than 40 years old at the time of the pre-operative examination, and have signed an informed consent. The lower age limit of 21 years is intended to ensure documentation of refractive stability and is the minimal age required by the FDA for informed consent for LASIK surgery.
. Manifest refractive spherical equivalent (MSE) of up to 10.00 diopters at the spectacle plane with refractive cylinder up to 3.00 D.
. Best spectacle corrected visual acuity of 20/20 or better in both eyes.
. Patients who are willing to fill out dry eye questionnaires.
. Demonstrated refractive stability, confirmed by clinical records. Neither the spherical nor the cylindrical portion of the refraction may have changed more than 0.50D during the 12- month period immediately preceding the baseline examination, as confirmed by clinical records.
Questions worth asking your doctor
Bring these to your next appointment. They're a starting point for a shared conversation — not a sign you qualify or a recommendation to enrol.
1Based on my diagnosis and history, is this trial worth exploring for me — or is there a standard treatment we should try first?
2What does this trial's phase tell us about how much is already known about its safety and benefit?
3What would taking part actually involve for me — visits, tests, time, and travel?
4What are the known and possible risks or side effects I should weigh, and how would they be monitored?
5If this trial isn't the right fit, what other options or trials would you suggest I look into?
Generated to help you prepare — always confirm anything about your own eligibility and care with the study team and your doctor.
Questions for the trial coordinator
The trial coordinator is the person who runs the study day to day. These cover the practical side — logistics, costs, and what taking part would actually mean for your life. The study team confirms whether you meet the criteria; these are questions to ask, not a sign you qualify.
1What does taking part actually involve week to week — how many visits, where, and how long does each one take?
2What costs are covered by the study, and what might I have to pay for myself, including travel, parking, or time off work?
3What happens during screening, and what happens if the study team confirms I don't meet the criteria after those tests?
4Who pays for the scans, blood work, and other tests the trial requires — the study, my insurance, or me?
5How will being in the trial affect my regular care, and will my own doctor stay informed and involved?
6Can I leave the trial at any point if I change my mind, and what would happen to my care if I do?
A starting point for the conversation — always confirm anything about your own eligibility, costs, and care with the study team and your doctor.
What they're measuring
1
Dry eye
Timeframe: one year after surgery
Trial details
NCT IDNCT00411827
SponsorWalter Reed National Military Medical Center
. All patients must be willing to return to the WRAMC Center for Refractive Surgery for follow up visits on Day1, Day 3, Day 7, and 1, 3, 6, and 12 months after their surgery.
. Located in the greater Washington DC area for a 14-month period.
. Consent of the subject's command (active duty) to participate in the study.
Exclusion criteria
. Previous surgery or trauma to the study eye.
. Dry eye as reflected by Schirmer's test with anesthesia of 0, subjective complaints or symptoms of dry eye, findings during the slit lamp exam that would be consistent with dry eye (e.g. superficial punctuate keratitis).
. Female subjects who are pregnant, breast-feeding or intend to become pregnant during the study. This is a standard of care exclusion for refractive surgery at the Walter Reed Refractive Surgery Center because of the medications that are routinely given as part of the procedures. Standard of care analgesia consists of medications (e.g. narcotics) labeled as Pregnancy Category "C" by the FDA. Teratogenic effects are not known, however, physical dependence in the neonate may occur if the mother is given narcotics. Female subjects will be given a urine pregnancy test prior to participating in the study to rule out pregnancy.
. Concurrent topical or systemic medications that may impair healing, including corticosteroids, antimetabolites, isotretinoin (Accutane), amiodarone hydrochloride (Cordarone) and/or sumatriptan (Imitrex).
. Medical condition(s), which, in the judgment of the investigator, may impair healing, including but not limited to: collagen vascular disease, autoimmune disease, immunodeficiency diseases, and ocular herpes zoster or simplex.
. Active ophthalmic disease, neovascularization of the cornea within 1mm of the intended ablation zone, or clinically significant lens opacity.
. Evidence of glaucoma or an intraocular pressure greater than 22 mm Hg at baseline.
. Evidence of keratoconus, corneal irregularity, or abnormal videokeratography in either eye.