NCT02256969

Brief Summary

In this research study, the investigators are looking at the effects of Meibomian Gland Probing (MGP) versus a sham (fake) procedure in patients with refractory MGD who have already tried traditional management with no success in resolving their clinical signs (as seen by their ophthalmologist) or their symptoms. The investigators are also evaluating the effects of using two (2) post-procedural medication treatments: Blephamide or GenTeal PM Night-Time to determine if treatment after the MGP procedure has an effect on its outcome.

Trial Health

87
On Track

Trial Health Score

Automated assessment based on enrollment pace, timeline, and geographic reach

Enrollment
45

participants targeted

Target at P25-P50 for phase_4

Timeline
Completed

Started Oct 2014

Shorter than P25 for phase_4

Geographic Reach
1 country

1 active site

Status
completed

Health score is calculated from publicly available data and should be used for screening purposes only.

Trial Relationships

Click on a node to explore related trials.

Study Timeline

Key milestones and dates

First Submitted

Initial submission to the registry

August 13, 2014

Completed
2 months until next milestone

Study Start

First participant enrolled

October 1, 2014

Completed
5 days until next milestone

First Posted

Study publicly available on registry

October 6, 2014

Completed
10 months until next milestone

Primary Completion

Last participant's last visit for primary outcome

August 1, 2015

Completed
Same day until next milestone

Study Completion

Last participant's last visit for all outcomes

August 1, 2015

Completed
1.8 years until next milestone

Results Posted

Study results publicly available

May 22, 2017

Completed
Last Updated

June 19, 2017

Status Verified

May 1, 2017

Enrollment Period

10 months

First QC Date

August 13, 2014

Results QC Date

April 14, 2017

Last Update Submit

May 25, 2017

Conditions

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (4)

  • Ocular Surface Disease Index (OSDI)

    A 12-question survey used to measure the symptoms of dry eye disease. Each of the 12 individual questions rate one symptom on a 0-4 scale, with 4 meaning that the symptom is present all of the time and 0 meaning the symptom is present none of the time. The overall ODSI score is calculated by adding all of the values from the 12 questions, multiplying that value by 25, and dividing the resulting value by the number of questions answered. This results in an overall scale that ranges from 0-100, with 100 being severe dry eye symptoms and 0 being no dry eye symptoms.

    4 week Time Point

  • Symptom Assessment in Dry Eye (SANDE)

    A two-item survey used to assess the frequency and severity of dry eye disease. The SANDE score is calculated by taking the square root of the product of the frequency of symptoms score and the severity of symptoms score. The SANDE scale ranges from 0 to 100 with 100 being the maximal amount of dry eye symptoms and 0 being the minimal amount of dry eye symptoms.

    4 week Time Point

  • Corneal Fluorescein Staining (CFS)

    Is used to assess the level of corneal epitheliopathy that is related to dry eye disease. The CFS scale ranges from 0 to 15 scale, with 0 representing the minimum level of corneal epitheliopathy and 15 representing the maximum level of epitheliopathy.

    4 week Time Point

  • Tear Break Up Time (TBUT)

    TBUT measures the amount of time, in seconds, a dry spot appears in the tear film after each blink. Values less than 10 seconds are considered abnormal.

    4 week Time Point

Study Arms (3)

Meibomian Gland Probing plus lubricant

OTHER

Meibomian Gland Probing: Stainless steel probes were used to probe all the meibomian glands of upper lids of both eyes at the slit lamp. All patients were probed with a 1-mm probe followed by a 2-mm probe for all glands. Lubricant: GenTeal PM Night-Time Ointment (Alcon), a sterile ophthalmic lubricant that is commonly used to relieve symptoms in patients with dry eye disease, was applied topically to both eyes for 4 weeks with the following regimen: twice daily for 2 weeks and then once daily for 2 weeks.

Drug: GenTeal PM Night-TimeProcedure: Meibomian Gland Probing

Sham Meibomian Gland Probing plus lubricant

OTHER

Sham Meibomian Gland Probing: The patient's the lid margin was touched with the probes without actual probing occurring. Lubricant: GenTeal PM Night-Time Ointment, ophthalmic lubricant used to relieve symptoms in patients with dry eye disease, was applied topically to both eyes for 4 weeks: twice daily for 2 weeks and then once daily for 2 weeks.

Drug: GenTeal PM Night-TimeProcedure: Sham Meibomian Gland Probing

Meibomian Gland Probing plus Blephamide

ACTIVE COMPARATOR

Meibomian Gland Probing: Stainless steel probes were used to probe all the meibomian glands of upper lids of both eyes at the slit lamp. All patients were probed with a 1-mm probe followed by a 2-mm probe for all glands. Blephamide: is a combination of an antibiotic and an anti-inflammatory agent commonly used to treat various ocular conditions. Blephamide was applied topically to both eyes for 4 weeks with a regimen of: twice daily for 2 weeks and then once daily for 2 weeks.

Drug: BlephamideProcedure: Meibomian Gland Probing

Interventions

Also known as: sulfacetamide sodium 10%/prednisolone acetate 0.2%, Allergan, Inc.
Meibomian Gland Probing plus Blephamide
Also known as: GenTeal PM Night-Time Ophthalmic Ointment Alcon
Meibomian Gland Probing plus lubricantSham Meibomian Gland Probing plus lubricant

For anesthesia, topical 3.5% lidocaine hydrochloride jelly (Akron) was applied directly with sterile cotton-tipped applicator to the lid margin for 3 times every 10 minutes before the procedure. If necessary, 2% lidocaine was injected into the lid margin during the procedure to provide additional comfort. After obtaining adequate anesthesia, the solid stainless steel probes (Maskin® Meibomian Gland Intraductal Probes, Rhein Medical Inc.) were used to probe all the meibomian glands of upper lids of both eyes at the slit lamp. All patients were initially be probed with a 1-mm probe followed by a 2-mm probe for all glands.

Meibomian Gland Probing plus BlephamideMeibomian Gland Probing plus lubricant

For anesthesia, topical 3.5% lidocaine hydrochloride jelly (Akron) was applied directly with sterile cotton-tipped applicator to the lid margin for 3 times every 10 minutes before the procedure. If necessary, 2% lidocaine was injected into the lid margin during the procedure to provide additional comfort. The patient's lid margin was touched with the probes without actual probing of the meibomian gland orifices.

Sham Meibomian Gland Probing plus lubricant

Eligibility Criteria

Age18 Years - 89 Years
Sexall
Healthy VolunteersNo
Age GroupsAdult (18-64), Older Adult (65+)

You may qualify if:

  • Age 18-89 years
  • Willing and able to provide written informed consent
  • Willing and able to comply with study assessments for the full duration of the study
  • Diagnosis of meibomian gland dysfunction (MGD)
  • Symptoms of MGD such as foreign body sensation, burning, stinging, light sensitivity for at least 3 months
  • Persistent symptoms despite at least 3 months of medical management including lid hygiene, warm compress, and use of topical and systemic therapy, or contraindication to systemic therapy
  • Presence of lid tenderness on the upper lids in both eyes
  • Tear break-up time (TBUT) of \<10 seconds
  • In good stable overall health

You may not qualify if:

  • Active allergies to steroids, sulfacetamide, GenTeal PM Night-Time ointment, or lidocaine
  • Intraocular surgery or ocular laser surgery within 1 month before enrollment
  • History of ocular infection within 1 month before enrollment.
  • History of increased intraocular pressure after using topical steroids (steroid responsive)
  • Any condition (including language barrier) that precludes subject's ability to comply with study requirements including completion of study

Contact the study team to confirm eligibility.

Sponsors & Collaborators

Study Sites (1)

Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary

Boston, Massachusetts, 02114, United States

Location

Related Publications (1)

  • Kheirkhah A, Kobashi H, Girgis J, Jamali A, Ciolino JB, Hamrah P. A randomized, sham-controlled trial of intraductal meibomian gland probing with or without topical antibiotic/steroid for obstructive meibomian gland dysfunction. Ocul Surf. 2020 Oct;18(4):852-856. doi: 10.1016/j.jtos.2020.08.008. Epub 2020 Aug 31.

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Meibomian Gland Dysfunction

Interventions

sulfanizoloneSulfacetamideprednisolone acetate

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Eyelid DiseasesEye Diseases

Intervention Hierarchy (Ancestors)

SulfanilamidesSulfonamidesAmidesOrganic ChemicalsAniline CompoundsAminesSulfonesSulfur Compounds

Results Point of Contact

Title
Assistant Professor of Ophthalmology
Organization
Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary

Study Officials

  • Joseph B Ciolino, M. D.

    Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary

    PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

Publication Agreements

PI is Sponsor Employee
Yes

Study Design

Study Type
interventional
Phase
phase 4
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Masking
DOUBLE
Who Masked
PARTICIPANT, OUTCOMES ASSESSOR
Purpose
TREATMENT
Intervention Model
PARALLEL
Sponsor Type
OTHER
Responsible Party
SPONSOR INVESTIGATOR
PI Title
Assistant Professor of Ophthalmology

Study Record Dates

First Submitted

August 13, 2014

First Posted

October 6, 2014

Study Start

October 1, 2014

Primary Completion

August 1, 2015

Study Completion

August 1, 2015

Last Updated

June 19, 2017

Results First Posted

May 22, 2017

Record last verified: 2017-05

Data Sharing

IPD Sharing
Will not share

Locations