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The Effect of Punctal Plugs on Ocular Surface After Povidone-Iodine Preparation of Intravitreal Injection

The Effect of Punctal Plugs in Reducing Ocular Surface Irritation After Povidone-Iodine Preparation of Intravitreal Injection

Status
Completed
Phases
NA
Study type
Interventional
Source
ClinicalTrials.gov
Registry ID
NCT03945071
Enrollment
126
Registered
2019-05-10
Start date
2019-06-01
Completion date
2020-10-18
Last updated
2023-12-07

For informational purposes only — not medical advice. Sourced from public registries and may not reflect the latest updates. Terms

Conditions

Dry Eye, Dry Eye Syndromes, Ocular Surface Disease

Brief summary

The aim of this study is to evaluate the effectiveness of punctal plugs in reducing ocular surface (eye surface) irritation after intravitreal injections prepared by povidone-iodine 5% solution.

Detailed description

Intravitreal injection is a shot of medication into the eye. Many retinal diseases, such as diabetic retinopathy, neovascular age-related macular degeneration, and retinal vein occlusions require regular, periodic injections. Patients often reports eye surface irritation post intravitreal injection. One of the reasons for such discomfort is attributed to povidone-iodine solution used to clean the eye surface to reduce sight-threatening infections. Patients who already experience symptoms of dry eye are at increased risk of discomfort after povidone-iodine prepped intravitreal injections. Povidone-iodine is known to be corrosive to the corneal epithelium and delay eye surface healing. Human tears contain proteins and chemicals that lubricate, heal, and protect the eye surface from infections and irritants. Adequate tear film therefore not only dilutes povidone-iodine, but also promotes corneal healing post povidone-iodine prepping. The primary long-term objective of the present study is to investigate whether punctal plugs will reduce eye discomfort post intravitreal injections as reported by the Ocular Surface Disease Index (OSDI) and other relevant surveys. The secondary outcome is to describe any other risk and protective factors associated with eye surface discomfort after intravitreal injections.

Interventions

Punctal plug will be given to subjects after intravitreal injection in half of the study subjects

Sponsors

University of Oklahoma
Lead SponsorOTHER

Study design

Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
CROSSOVER
Primary purpose
PREVENTION
Masking
SINGLE (Investigator)

Eligibility

Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
18 Years to No maximum
Healthy volunteers
No

Inclusion criteria

* Clinical diagnosis of age-related macula degeneration * Clinical diagnosis of diabetic retinopathy * Clinical diagnosis of retinal vein occlusion

Exclusion criteria

* Currently wearing punctal plugs * History of punctal cautery, * Active ocular infection * History of ocular infection * Eyelid trauma * Eyelid surgery * Graft versus host disease * Thyroid eye disease.

Design outcomes

Primary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Change in ocular (eye) discomfortFrom date of randomization until date of death from any cause, whichever came first, assessed up to 100 weeksMeasure participants' level of discomfort after punctal plugs using the Ocular Surface Disease Index (OSDI), which is a paper survey that participants fill out based on their symptoms and level of ocular discomfort (if any).

Countries

United States

Outcome results

None listed

Source: ClinicalTrials.gov · Data processed: Feb 4, 2026