Safety and Efficacy of Intracanalicular Dexamethasone Compared to Loteprednol Etabonate in Patients With Keratoconus
Keratoconus, Dry Eye, Allergy
About this trial
This is an interventional treatment trial for Keratoconus
Eligibility Criteria
Inclusion Criteria:
- 18 years of age or older
- Bilateral Keratoconus
- Bilateral RGP contact lenses
- Bilateral allergic conjunctivitis as determined by the Papillae Efron Scale score of at least 1 and symptoms of itching
- Bilateral underlying dry eye disease as determined by the NEI Fluorescein Staining Scale score of at least 1 and a TBUT of less than 10 and must correlate with dryness on OSDI
Exclusion Criteria:
- Patients under the age of 18.
- Pregnancy (must be ruled out in women of child-bearing age with pregnancy test)
- Active infectious systemic disease
- Active infectious ocular or extraocular disease
- Obstructed nasolacrimal duct in the study eye(s)
- Hypersensitivity to dexamethasone
- Patients being treated with immunomodulating agents in the study eye(s)
- Patients being treated with immunosuppressants and/or oral steroids Patients with severe disease that warrants critical attention, deemed unsafe for the study by the investigator
Sites / Locations
- Illinois Eye Institute
Arms of the Study
Arm 1
Arm 2
Experimental
Active Comparator
Dexamethasone insert
Loteprednol etabonate ophthalmic gel 0.38%
Per participant, one eye will be randomized to receive the intracanalicular dexamethasone insert at the baseline visit (study eye). DEXTENZA is an ophthalmic insert that is inserted in the lower lacrimal punctum into the canaliculus at the day 1 visit by pulling the lower lid taught and using a forceps to insert the medication into the lower canaliculus through the lower punctum.
Per participant, one eye will be randomized to receive the standard of care topical lotemax etabonate ophthalmic gel 0.38% (control eye). Patients will be prescribed a loteprednol etabonate ophthalmic gel 0.38% and will instill one drop into the eye following a 4x/day,3x/day,2x/day,1/xday weekly taper