Plain English Summary
Background and study aims
Diabetes is a serious long-term condition where a person is unable to control their blood sugar (glucose). People living with diabetes often have to live with long-term complications of the disease. One of these complications is diabetic retinopathy, where the tiny blood vessels (capillaries) that supply cells at the back of the eye (the retina) that are sensitive to light become damaged over time. There are four distinct stages of diabetic retinopathy, the most advanced of which being proliferative diabetic retinopathy (PDR). Over time, the capillaries become so damaged that growth factors (chemicals that trigger growth) are released, causing new blood vessels start to grow behind the retina. These blood vessels are generally very weak and prone to leakage, distorting the vision. Laser photocoagulation (LP) is a surgical technique used to treat PDR. This involves using the heat from a laser to seal or destroy the abnormal, leaking blood vessels in the retina. Although the procedure is very effective, it has been known to cause ocular surface disease (OSD). This is whether the surface of the cornea (the transparent layer that forms the front of the eye) is damaged, causing dry eyes, blurry vision and discomfort. The LP procedure can either be contact LP, in which the laser makes direct contact with the eye surface via a contact lens, or non-contact LP, in which the eye in held open and the laser is applied from a short distance. Both of these techniques have their risks and benefits however it is not known which is least likely to cause OSD. The aim of this study is to find out whether the contact LP or non-contact LP technique causes a higher rate of OSD in PDR patients.
Who can participate?
Adults aged 40 and over who have recently been diagnosed with proliferative diabetic retinopathy.
What does the study involve?
At the first study visit, all participants complete a questionnaire and have an eye examination. Participants are randomly allocated to one of two groups. Those in the first group undergo contact LP, which involves receiving numbing eye drops five minutes before the procedure before the contact lens used for the procedure is placed on the eye. The laser therapy is then completed while patients are in a sitting position. Those in the second group undergo non-contact LP, which involves receiving numbing eye drops five minutes before the procedure before an eye speculum (device to hold the eye open) is put in place. The laser therapy is then delivered while the patient is lying down on a treatment couch. For both groups, the therapy is completed three times spaced one week apart. Three months after the final laser therapy session, participants in both groups repeat the initial evaluations in order to find how many are suffering from OSD.
What are the possible benefits and risks of participating?
Participants benefit from receiving the treatments free of charge, and undergoing the laser therapy could lead to an improvement in their vision. Risks of participating in this study are small but include the possibility of discomfort during the eye examinations at the start and end of the study. For most people, undergoing LP does not cause serious complications, however there is a risk that participants may experience discomfort and blurred vision for at least four to six hours after the procedure.
Where is the study run from?
Universiti Sains Malaysia (Malaysia)
When is the study starting and how long is it expected to run for?
June 2012 to May 2015
Who is funding the study?
Universiti Sains Malaysia (Malaysia)
Who is the main contact?
Dr Sunaiuna Embong
zunaina@usm.my
Trial website
Contact information
Type
Scientific
Primary contact
Dr Zunaina Embong
ORCID ID
http://orcid.org/0000-0001-5394-6105
Contact details
Universiti Sains Malaysia
Department of Ophthalmology
School of Medical Sciences
Health Campus
Kubang Kerian
16150
Malaysia
+60 9 767 6362
zunaina@usm.my
Additional identifiers
EudraCT number
ClinicalTrials.gov number
Protocol/serial number
N/A
Study information
Scientific title
A randomised paralell trial looking at the effects of contact and non-contact laser photocoagulation therapy on ocular surface in patients with proliferative diabetic retinopathy
Acronym
Study hypothesis
Contact laser photocoagulation is related with higher incidence of dry eyes compared to non-contact laser photocoagulation in proliferative diabetic retinopathy patients.
Ethics approval
Research and Ethical Committee, School of Medical Sciences, Universiti Sains Malaysia, 23/05/2013, ref: USMKK/PPP/JEPeM [263.3.(6)]
Study design
Single-centre prospective randomised parallel trial
Primary study design
Interventional
Secondary study design
Randomised parallel trial
Trial setting
Hospitals
Trial type
Treatment
Patient information sheet
Not available in web format, please use the contact details below to request a patient information sheet.
Condition
Proliferative diabetic retinopathy
Intervention
Eligible eyes are randomized into two treatment groups using a random sampling envelope technique. For all participants, once baseline parameters have been obtained, laser eye therapy is given. The eyes are dilated using 1% tropicamide eyedrops 20 minutes before laser therapy before laser therapy delivered at week 1, week 2 and week 3, with total laser shots of 3000-5000 shots.
Contact laser photocoagulation group: Patients receive a single drop of 0.5% proparacaine hydrochloride topical anaesthesia solution 5 minutes before the placement of the applanation contact lens. A coupling fluid (2.5% methylcellulose) and contact lens are used for contact LP. Patients are seated at Argon laser slit lamp machine. In the slit-lamp biomicroscope, the delivery of Argon green laser is transcorneal. The laser is delivered to the retina using the Mainster Wide Field contact lens or Goldmann’s three-mirror contact lens with the patient sits at a slit-lamp with laser fibreoptic cable.
Non-contact laser photocoagulation group: Laser therapy is delivered to retina via binocular indirect laser delivery system. Patient receive a single drop of 0.5% proparacaine hydrochloride topical anaesthesia solution 5 minutes before the procedure. Patient are instructed to lie down on a treatment couch in supine position while an eye speculum is inserted. Artificial tears eyedrops are instilled intermittently to keep the ocular surface moist. The laser is delivered to retina with the aid of a 20D or 30D condensing lens.
Following completion of 3 sessions of laser therapy, participants are followed up 3 months post intervention.
Intervention type
Procedure/Surgery
Phase
Drug names
Primary outcome measure
1. Schirmer test value is measured using the Schirmer test at baseline and 12 weeks
2. Tear film break-up time (TBUT) is determined by measuring the interval between the last complete blink and the first appearance of a dry spot in the stained cornea at baseline and 12 weeks
3. Ocular Surface Disease Index (OSDI) score is measured using the OSDI questionnaire at baseline and 12 weeks
Secondary outcome measures
N/A
Overall trial start date
01/06/2012
Overall trial end date
30/05/2015
Reason abandoned (if study stopped)
Eligibility
Participant inclusion criteria
1. Aged 40 years and over
2. Newly diagnosed proliferative diabetic retinopathy among diabetic patients
Participant type
Patient
Age group
Adult
Gender
Both
Target number of participants
Required 60 patients (30 eyes for each group).
Participant exclusion criteria
1. On regular eye drops medication (eg topical antiglaucoma drugs)
2. Poor media that obscuring view of delivering laser photocoagulation to the retina such as corneal opacity and preretinal or vitreous hemorrhage obscuring view of retina
3. Previous history of intraocular surgery or ocular trauma including chemical, thermal
or radiation injury
4. Contact lens wearer
5. Previous history of laser photocoagulation
Recruitment start date
01/06/2013
Recruitment end date
30/05/2014
Locations
Countries of recruitment
Malaysia
Trial participating centre
Universiti Sains Malaysia
School of Medical Sciences
Health Campus
Kubang Kerian
16150
Malaysia
Funders
Funder type
University/education
Funder name
Universiti Sains Malaysia
Alternative name(s)
Funding Body Type
Funding Body Subtype
Location
Results and Publications
Publication and dissemination plan
Paln to publish in PLOS ONE journal for the effect of contact and non-contact laser photocoagulation therapy on ocular surface.
Intention to publish date
01/04/2016
Participant level data
Available on request
Basic results (scientific)
Publication list