GenTeal in Perioperative Treatment of Laser Assisted in Situ Keratomileusis LASIK Patients

Phase 4

Completed

Conditions: Corneal Epithelium Defect

Interventions: Drug: 0.3% hypromellose

Registration Number: NCT00598689

Lead Sponsor: Augusta University

Brief Summary: GenTeal gel is an artificial tear gel used to lubricate the surface of the eye. This study will evaluate the effect of GenTeal gel on comfort following LASIK surgery. Participants will be asked to come to the clinic for three regularly scheduled visits after LASIK surgery: Day 1 (one day after LASIK surgery), Day 7 (one week follow-up), and Day 30 (one month follow-up). Participants will be asked to complete a questionnaire regarding eye comfort during each follow up visit. Participants will be randomly assigned to one of two groups, one of which will receive Genteal Gel four times a day for five days prior to surgery. The other group will receive no preoperative gel or lubricant, which has been our standard approach for many years.

Detailed Description: LASIK (Laser Keratomileusis in Situ) is a frequently performed procedure to reduce the refractive error of the eye so as to minimize the subsequent need for eyeglasses or contact lenses. The procedure requires the creation of a superficial corneal flap, usually with an instrument known as a microkeratome. During the creation of the flap with a microkeratome, the corneal epithelium is typically subjected to sliding stresses which occasionally cause disruption of the epithelial surface, a complication with potentially serious adverse effect on the post operative visual acuity. As well, shortly before the creation of the flap, the patient is often dilated and invariably treated with topical anesthetics. These agents, and their preservatives, can have a negative effect on corneal epithelial integrity, right before the epithelium must withstand the passage of the microkeratome. Therefore, it is imperative that the epithelium be in the best possible condition prior to the LASIK procedure. For this reason, ocular lubricants may be used for a period of time prior to surgery in order to maximize epithelial health.

In the immediate post-operative period the bond between the newly created flap and the underlying corneal stroma is weak, and the epithelium has just been subjected to the pharmacologic and mechanical stresses noted above. It is imperative that the surface continuity of the epithelium between the edge of the flap and the surrounding surface be restored as rapidly as possible, as reestablishment of an intact epithelial surface minimizes the risks of flap shift, epithelial ingrowth, and infection. For all these reasons, it is a generally accepted standard of care to use aggressive ocular lubrication during the post-operative period in order to maximize the speed of epithelial recovery.

GenTeal Lubricant Eye Drops and GenTeal Gel, (0.3% hypromellose, Novartis Ophthalmics, Basel, Switzerland) provide a natural alternative to preservative-free treatments, with a sodium perborate preservative system and long-lasting action due to the carbomer gelling agent. The perborate preservative, which breaks down to water and oxygen on the ocular surface, essentially delivers a preservative-free lubricant to the eye. This makes the GenTeal products attractive agents for use in the LASIK perioperative period.

Recruitment & Eligibility

Status: COMPLETED

Sex: All

Target Recruitment: 80

Inclusion Criteria

Age 18 - 60
Both sexes
Any race
Seeking LASIK surgery at the Medical College of Georgia (MCG)/Eye Care One
Meeting all established criteria for appropriateness for LASIK established by MCG/Eye Care One

Exclusion Criteria

Any corneal pathology including scars, prior herpes keratitis, prior corneal transplant
Any immunocompromised state including diabetes mellitus, cancer, HIV infection, or Hepatitis B or C.
Failure to meet all established criteria for appropriateness for LASIK established by MCG/Eye Care One

Study & Design

Study Type: INTERVENTIONAL

Study Design: PARALLEL

Arm && Interventions

Group	Intervention	Description
Lubricant	0.3% hypromellose	Patients scheduled to receive LASIK surgery and randomized to receive 0.3% hypromellose ophthalmic solution prior to surgery.

Primary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Epithelial Healing After Laser Assisted in Situ Keratomileusis (LASIK) Surgery	Day 1, End of Week 1	Assess whether preoperative GenTeal Gel enhances epithelial healing after LASIK surgery within the first post-operative week, compared to control (no preoperative lubricant). Healing of the area of the cornea covering the radius of the sectioned into clock hours 0 - 12 where 0 hours equals no healing and 12 hours equals complete healing.

Secondary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Post Operative Pain Level	Day 1, End of Week 1	Assess whether preoperative GenTeal Gel alleviates post operative pain in LASIK surgery patients compared to control (no preoperative lubricant) as measured by patient completion of the Universal Pain Assessment Tool (moderate), a ten point scale with 0 being no pain and 10 being the worst pain possible. Data on the level of pain only in the right eye will be collected.
Tolerability and Alleviation of Post-operative Pain in LASIK Surgery	Week 1 post surgery	A comparison of subjective comfort level defined as tolerability and alleviation of post-operative pain experienced as a result of post-operative application of GenTeal drops. Subjective pain level was measured on a 10 point likert scale where 0 = no pain and 10 = worst pain possible. A lower score at Week 1 as compared to Day 1 was considered improved. A same score or higher at week 1 as compared to day 1 was considered no improvement.