Intraductal Meibomian Gland Probing Trial (MGP)

• ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT02256969
• Recruitment Status: Completed
• First Posted: October 6, 2014
• Results First Posted: May 22, 2017
• Last Update Posted: June 19, 2017
• Sponsor: Joseph B. Ciolino, MD
• Information provided by (Responsible Party): Joseph B. Ciolino, MD, Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary

Study Description

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.

Condition or disease	Intervention/treatment	Phase
Meibomian Gland Dysfunction	Drug: Blephamide; Drug: GenTeal PM Night-Time; Procedure: Meibomian Gland Probing; Procedure: Sham Meibomian Gland Probing	Phase 4

Detailed Description:

Dry eye disease is one of the most common conditions seen in ophthalmic practice and is associated with significant patient distress. Meibomian gland dysfunction (MGD) is among the most prevalent causes of dry eye disease. This condition, which is often due to obstruction of the meibomian gland orifices, may result in significant ocular irritation. Traditionally, management of MGD includes warm compress, lid hygiene, and anti-inflammatory medications. This randomized clinical trial is designed to evaluate the effects of meibomian gland probing versus sham procedure in cases with refractory MGD that do not respond to traditional treatments. Moreover, the effects of postoperative regimen will also be investigated using two different regimens. In addition to symptoms, the changes will also be evaluated in terms of clinical signs as well as in vivo confocal microscopy (IVCM) which allows study at the cellular level.

Study Design

• Study Type: Interventional (Clinical Trial)
• Actual Enrollment: 45 participants
• Allocation: Randomized
• Intervention Model: Parallel Assignment
• Masking: Double (Participant, Outcomes Assessor)
• Primary Purpose: Treatment
• Official Title: Prospective, Randomized Clinical Trial of Meibomian Gland Probing Versus Sham Procedure for Refractory Meibomian Gland Dysfunction
• Study Start Date: October 2014
• Actual Primary Completion Date: August 2015
• Actual Study Completion Date: August 2015

Arms and Interventions

Arm	Intervention/treatment
Meibomian Gland Probing plus lubricant; 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-Time; Other Name: GenTeal PM Night-Time Ophthalmic Ointment Alcon; Procedure: Meibomian Gland Probing; 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.
Sham Meibomian Gland Probing plus lubricant; 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-Time; Other Name: GenTeal PM Night-Time Ophthalmic Ointment Alcon; Procedure: Sham Meibomian Gland Probing; 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.
Active Comparator: Meibomian Gland Probing plus Blephamide; 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: Blephamide; Other Name: sulfacetamide sodium 10%/prednisolone acetate 0.2%, Allergan, Inc.; Procedure: Meibomian Gland Probing; 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.

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcome Measures :

1. Ocular Surface Disease Index (OSDI) [ Time Frame: 4 week Time Point ]
   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.
2. Symptom Assessment in Dry Eye (SANDE) [ Time Frame: 4 week Time Point ]
   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.
3. Corneal Fluorescein Staining (CFS) [ Time Frame: 4 week Time Point ]
   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. Tear Break Up Time (TBUT) [ Time Frame: 4 week Time Point ]
   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.

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: 18 Years to 89 Years (Adult, Older Adult)
• Sexes Eligible for Study: All
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No

Criteria

Inclusion Criteria:

• 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

Exclusion Criteria:

• 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

Contacts and Locations

Locations

United States, Massachusetts

Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary

Boston, Massachusetts, United States, 02114

Sponsors and Collaborators

Joseph B. Ciolino, MD

Investigators

• Principal Investigator: Joseph B Ciolino, M. D.; Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary

More Information

• Responsible Party: Joseph B. Ciolino, MD, Assistant Professor of Ophthalmology, Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary
• ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT02256969
• Other Study ID Numbers: 14-059H
• First Posted: October 6, 2014
• Results First Posted: May 22, 2017
• Last Update Posted: June 19, 2017
• Last Verified: May 2017

Individual Participant Data (IPD) Sharing Statement:

• Plan to Share IPD: No

• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated Drug Product: Yes
• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated Device Product: No

Additional relevant MeSH terms:

Prednisolone acetate; Mineral Oil; Anti-Inflammatory Agents; Emollients; Dermatologic Agents