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Comparison of Lipiflow®-Treatment and a Standard Lid Hygiene Regime

Primary Purpose

Meibomian Gland Dysfunction

Status
Completed
Phase
Not Applicable
Locations
Germany
Study Type
Interventional
Intervention
Lipiflow
Lid hygiene regime
Sponsored by
Heinrich-Heine University, Duesseldorf
About
Eligibility
Locations
Arms
Outcomes
Full info

About this trial

This is an interventional treatment trial for Meibomian Gland Dysfunction focused on measuring Meibomian Gland Dysfunction, Lipiflow

Eligibility Criteria

18 Years - undefined (Adult, Older Adult)All SexesDoes not accept healthy volunteers

Inclusion Criteria:

  • All patients with meibomian gland dysfunction requiring treatment (defined below),
  • who have given their written consent to the study.
  • Meibomian gland dysfunction requiring treatment is classified by us as:
  • Speed score> 7, Lipiview <61 nm, MGE <5 of 15 open glands

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Excluded are patients who, due to other diseases would not be able to fulfill the follow-up appointments or give an informed consent to the study
  • Systemic medication with tetracyclin derivatives, antihistamines, isotretinoin, or nutritional supplements for MGD that started <3 months before baseline examination
  • Topical cyclosporine-A or steroids that started <1 month before baseline examination
  • Ocular surgery or trauma <3 months before baseline examination
  • Any eyelid abnormalities
  • Systemic diseases resulting in dry eye.

Sites / Locations

  • Deparment of ophthalmology, Heinrich-Heine-University

Arms of the Study

Arm 1

Arm 2

Arm Type

Active Comparator

Active Comparator

Arm Label

Standard Lid Hygiene Regime

Lipiflow

Arm Description

Patients receive detailed verbal and written instruction to perform lid hygiene twice daily

Patients receive a singe Lipiflow-treatment

Outcomes

Primary Outcome Measures

Change of Dry Eye Symptoms
The symptoms of dry eyes are measured in our study with the OSDI and the SPEED questionaire. Primary outcome measure (OSDI) Patients completed two symptom questionnaires: OSDI (Ocular Surface Disease Index) and SPEED (Standard Patient Evaluation of Eye dryness). OSDI scores range from 0 (no symptoms) to 100 (severe symptoms). SPEED scores range from 0 (no symptoms) to 28 (severe symptoms). So a reduction of the OSDI or SPEED score indicates an improvement of subjective dry eye symptoms.

Secondary Outcome Measures

Change of Break-up-time
break-up-time is measured non-invasive with the Oculus Keratograph 5 M; The break-up-time is measured in seconds. A low break-up-time suggests a lower lipid layer thickness. A higher break-up-time can be regarded as an improvement of ocular surface lubrication.
Change in Tear Film Osmolarity
osmolarity is measured with the tear-lab; The osmolarity is measured in mOsm/l. A higher osmolarity can be regarded as an objective sign of dry eye disease. A lower osmolarity after therapy can be regarded as an improvement of ocular surface disease.
Change in Lipid Layer Thickness
lipid layer thickness (LLT) is measured with the Lipiview-interferometer; High values of LLT indicate a better lubrication of the ocular surface, so an increase in LLT can be regarded in an improvement of ocular surface. LLT is measured in Interferometric color units (ICUs) whereas 1 ICU reflects about 1 nm lipid layer thickness.
Change in Expressible Meibomian Glands
expressible Meibomian glands are measured with the Meibomian gland evaluator; A higher number of expressible Meibomian glands indicate a lower likelihood Meibomian Gland dysfunction.

Full Information

First Posted
January 11, 2013
Last Updated
October 6, 2014
Sponsor
Heinrich-Heine University, Duesseldorf
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1. Study Identification

Unique Protocol Identification Number
NCT01769105
Brief Title
Comparison of Lipiflow®-Treatment and a Standard Lid Hygiene Regime
Official Title
Prospective, Randomized, Controlled Comparison of an Automated Thermal Pulsation Treatment (Lipiflow ®) and a Standard Lid Hygiene Regime
Study Type
Interventional

2. Study Status

Record Verification Date
October 2014
Overall Recruitment Status
Completed
Study Start Date
April 2012 (undefined)
Primary Completion Date
June 2013 (Actual)
Study Completion Date
June 2013 (Actual)

3. Sponsor/Collaborators

Responsible Party, by Official Title
Principal Investigator
Name of the Sponsor
Heinrich-Heine University, Duesseldorf

4. Oversight

Data Monitoring Committee
No

5. Study Description

Brief Summary
Recently, beneficial effects on Meibomian gland dysfunction (MGD) of a single automated thermal pulsation with the Lipiflow® system have been reported in several case reports. In one study this treatment was compared with hyperthermia (iheat®) for 4 weeks. However, treatment recommendations for lid hygiene according to the MGD-report consist of hyperthermia followed by lid massage and lid margin cleansing over several months. To the best of the investigators knowledge this is the first randomized prospective study to compare automated thermal pulsation treatment with the new Lipiflow ® system with a standard lid hygiene regime. The investigators suggest that a single treatment with Lipiflow® is superior to a lid hygiene regime.
Detailed Description
Once a patient has been identified as a possible candidate for the study, he/she is first informed verbally and in writing about the study. After signing the consent form he/she will be randomized to either the Lipiflow® treatment (Lipiflow® group) or alternatively be given an instruction sheet and a verbal explanation for lid warming and massage (lid hygiene group). After 3 month a cross-over of the lid hygiene group to the Lipiflow® group is conducted. A full examination is performed before and 4 weeks and 3 months after therapy. All tests are performed by a physician or trained graduate students of the Department of Ophthalmology, Heinrich-Heine University. The examiner is blinded, i.e. he does not know which treatment the patient will receive or receiving. Treatment Lipiflow®: The automated thermal pulsation with Lipiflow® provides is a low risk therapy. After local anesthesia the applicators are inserted. These look like a kind of goggles and consist of two parts which embrace the eyelids from the front and from behind. Through the rear part heat is applied to a maximum of 42.5° C. By isolating the heat remains on the eyelid limited. Through the front part the gland a massage is performed. The treatment takes 12 minutes per eye and can be done depending on the patient's wishes simultaneously or one eye after the other. The therapy is approved by the FDA as a medical technical innovation and has also been approved by ISO and CE Mark certification for use in Europe. Irritation or minor trauma of the eyelids and the conjunctiva and cornea, as well as a violation of the eyelids and the conjunctiva and cornea are theoretically possible, but extremely unlikely. Permanent damages to the eyes have not been reported in the literature. In the unlikely event, that complications occur during treatment, requiring an additional treatment, this is performed in the department of ophthalmology of the Heinrich-Heine University Duesseldorf. Test parameters: At any time of investigation, the following parameters are evaluated: Lipiview®, Tear Lab®, Schirmer test, break-up time, corneal and conjunctival fluorescein staining, Meibomian gland evaluation (MGE), examination of the eyelids, Meibography, OSDI score, SPEED score All test parameters are established procedures and have in common a very low risk of harm to the patient. In detail: The Lipiview® is a device that quantifies the thickness of the lipid layer of the tear film using interferometry. For this the patient looks into a kind of camera while recordings of his tear film are made, which are then analyzed by a computer. Tear Lab® is a method for measuring tear film osmolarity. A pen-like instrument (the osmometer) is held on the tear meniscus and collects 100 nl tears within fractions of a second in the unit. There is no need for local anaesthesia. By electrical impedance measurement, then the tear film osmolarity is measured. The examiner can then read the values digitally. The Schirmer test consists of a strip of filter paper that is placed in the conjunctival sac of the patient for five minutes. The filter paper absorbs the tear fluid and the stained by the tear fluid line serves as a measure of tear secretion. Tear break-up time is the time between a blink and the tear film shows signs of breaking up. In this study this is measured non-invasive with the Oculus-Keratograph 5 M®. The patient looks into a kind of camera while recordings of his tear film are made which are then analyzed by a computer. Vital corneal and conjunctival epithelium cannot be stained by fluorescein. The dye adheres to nonviable cells. The degree of staining, can be judged by the investigator by slit-lamp examination. For evaluation of the secreting meibomian glands a specialized device (Meibomian gland evaluator) is used, that provides a defined pressure to the lid. The examiner observes the ducts of the Meibomian glands and assesses how many glands are yielding secretion. Examination of the eyelids is done using a slit lamp to assess a thickening or a significant vascularisation the lid margin. To perform meibography the lids are illuminated by infrared light. Functional acini of the glands become clearly visible and can be differentiated from atrophic acini. The number of atrophic meibomian glands can be counted by a score. OSDI (Ocular-Surface-Disease-Index) and SPEED (Standard Pattern Evaluation of Eye Dryness) are questionnaires to quantify the symptoms of dry eye.

6. Conditions and Keywords

Primary Disease or Condition Being Studied in the Trial, or the Focus of the Study
Meibomian Gland Dysfunction
Keywords
Meibomian Gland Dysfunction, Lipiflow

7. Study Design

Primary Purpose
Treatment
Study Phase
Not Applicable
Interventional Study Model
Crossover Assignment
Masking
Investigator
Allocation
Randomized
Enrollment
40 (Actual)

8. Arms, Groups, and Interventions

Arm Title
Standard Lid Hygiene Regime
Arm Type
Active Comparator
Arm Description
Patients receive detailed verbal and written instruction to perform lid hygiene twice daily
Arm Title
Lipiflow
Arm Type
Active Comparator
Arm Description
Patients receive a singe Lipiflow-treatment
Intervention Type
Device
Intervention Name(s)
Lipiflow
Intervention Description
Patients receive a single Lipiflow-treatment
Intervention Type
Behavioral
Intervention Name(s)
Lid hygiene regime
Intervention Description
Patients receive verbal and written instruction to perform lid hygiene twice daily
Primary Outcome Measure Information:
Title
Change of Dry Eye Symptoms
Description
The symptoms of dry eyes are measured in our study with the OSDI and the SPEED questionaire. Primary outcome measure (OSDI) Patients completed two symptom questionnaires: OSDI (Ocular Surface Disease Index) and SPEED (Standard Patient Evaluation of Eye dryness). OSDI scores range from 0 (no symptoms) to 100 (severe symptoms). SPEED scores range from 0 (no symptoms) to 28 (severe symptoms). So a reduction of the OSDI or SPEED score indicates an improvement of subjective dry eye symptoms.
Time Frame
after 3 month compared to baseline value
Secondary Outcome Measure Information:
Title
Change of Break-up-time
Description
break-up-time is measured non-invasive with the Oculus Keratograph 5 M; The break-up-time is measured in seconds. A low break-up-time suggests a lower lipid layer thickness. A higher break-up-time can be regarded as an improvement of ocular surface lubrication.
Time Frame
after 3 month compared to baseline value
Title
Change in Tear Film Osmolarity
Description
osmolarity is measured with the tear-lab; The osmolarity is measured in mOsm/l. A higher osmolarity can be regarded as an objective sign of dry eye disease. A lower osmolarity after therapy can be regarded as an improvement of ocular surface disease.
Time Frame
after 3 month compared to baseline value
Title
Change in Lipid Layer Thickness
Description
lipid layer thickness (LLT) is measured with the Lipiview-interferometer; High values of LLT indicate a better lubrication of the ocular surface, so an increase in LLT can be regarded in an improvement of ocular surface. LLT is measured in Interferometric color units (ICUs) whereas 1 ICU reflects about 1 nm lipid layer thickness.
Time Frame
after 3 month compared to baseline value
Title
Change in Expressible Meibomian Glands
Description
expressible Meibomian glands are measured with the Meibomian gland evaluator; A higher number of expressible Meibomian glands indicate a lower likelihood Meibomian Gland dysfunction.
Time Frame
after 3 month compared to baseline value

10. Eligibility

Sex
All
Minimum Age & Unit of Time
18 Years
Accepts Healthy Volunteers
No
Eligibility Criteria
Inclusion Criteria: All patients with meibomian gland dysfunction requiring treatment (defined below), who have given their written consent to the study. Meibomian gland dysfunction requiring treatment is classified by us as: Speed score> 7, Lipiview <61 nm, MGE <5 of 15 open glands Exclusion Criteria: Excluded are patients who, due to other diseases would not be able to fulfill the follow-up appointments or give an informed consent to the study Systemic medication with tetracyclin derivatives, antihistamines, isotretinoin, or nutritional supplements for MGD that started <3 months before baseline examination Topical cyclosporine-A or steroids that started <1 month before baseline examination Ocular surgery or trauma <3 months before baseline examination Any eyelid abnormalities Systemic diseases resulting in dry eye.
Overall Study Officials:
First Name & Middle Initial & Last Name & Degree
Gerd Geerling, M.D.
Organizational Affiliation
Deparmtent of ophthalmology, Heinrich-Heine-University, Duesseldorf
Official's Role
Study Chair
Facility Information:
Facility Name
Deparment of ophthalmology, Heinrich-Heine-University
City
Duesseldorf
ZIP/Postal Code
D-40225
Country
Germany

12. IPD Sharing Statement

Citations:
PubMed Identifier
24725326
Citation
Finis D, Hayajneh J, Konig C, Borrelli M, Schrader S, Geerling G. Evaluation of an automated thermodynamic treatment (LipiFlow(R)) system for meibomian gland dysfunction: a prospective, randomized, observer-masked trial. Ocul Surf. 2014 Apr;12(2):146-54. doi: 10.1016/j.jtos.2013.12.001. Epub 2014 Jan 22.
Results Reference
result

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Comparison of Lipiflow®-Treatment and a Standard Lid Hygiene Regime

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