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Clinical Trial Comparing Two Non-Surgical Treatments for Severe Blepharoptosis

A Randomized Cross-Over Clinical Trial Comparing Two Non-Surgical Treatments for Severe Blepharoptosis

Status
Completed
Phases
NA
Study type
Interventional
Source
ClinicalTrials.gov
Registry ID
NCT04678115
Enrollment
16
Registered
2020-12-21
Start date
2021-06-01
Completion date
2024-12-31
Last updated
2025-04-22

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

Conditions

Blepharoptosis, Chronic Progressive External Ophthalmoplegia, Myasthenia Gravis, Ptosis, Eyelid, Stroke, Traumatic Brain Injury

Brief summary

This clinical trial will evaluate two non-surgical devices designed to improve eye lid opening for patients with severe Blepharoptosis (incomplete opening of the eyelids).

Detailed description

Two non-surgical devices for patients with Blepharoptosis will be evaluated. The Magnetic Levator Prosthesis (MLP), is an external device that makes use of a newer class of permanent magnets (made of alloys of neodymium (Nd), iron (Fe) and boron (B)) to restore eyelid movement. The Kinesiotape Frontalis Sling (KTFS), involves the use of tape to help facilitate levator muscle contraction to open the eyelid. Video recordings of spontaneous and volitional blinks will be used to evaluate the effects of each device on eyelid reanimation. The clinical trial will employ a crossover design in which participants will try each device at home in counterbalanced order with a washout period between. In each period of the crossover, participants will receive training (during study visits at Massachusetts Eye and Ear) in how to apply the device and will then try the device at home for one week with daily follow up by video calls. At the end of the one-week period of home use there will be a study visit at Massachusetts Eye and Ear when the device will be returned and additional video recordings of eye blinks will be made. At the end of the crossover period, participants will be asked to complete a questionnaire comparing the two devices and to select their preferred device.

Interventions

Neodymium magnet embedded in a glasses frame and a polymer embedded (PDMS) micro-magnet array fitted externally to the upper lid with IV 3000 securement film. The IV 3000 is FDA approved for extended wear on the skin.

DEVICEKinesiotape Frontalis Sling (KTFS)

Kineso Tape is FDA registered as a 510K exempt class 1 device, typically used by physical and occupational therapist to support muscular healing and movement. It is sometimes used on the face in cases of facial palsy or on the eye lid to support the lid in cases of severe blepharoptosis. In such cases it may be attached near the lid margin above the lashes extending up to the forehead skin overlying the frontalis muscle. Alternatively it may be a very short piece attached only along the lid skin. The tape is easily removed.

Sponsors

National Eye Institute (NEI)
CollaboratorNIH
Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary
Lead SponsorOTHER

Study design

Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
CROSSOVER
Primary purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
TRIPLE (Subject, Investigator, Outcomes Assessor)

Eligibility

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

Inclusion criteria

* Presence of ptosis for at least one eye which occludes the visual axis in the resting position (without frontalis drive, lifting with forehead muscles) * Moderate cognitive function or better defined as greater than or equal to 18 out of 30 on a pre-screening of the Mini-Mental State Exam (MMSE)

Exclusion criteria

* Absence of ptosis which occludes the visual axis * Presence of a corneal ulcer of any size * Age less than 5 years * Severe Cognitive impairment defined as MMSE score less than 18, behaviors consistent with delirium (combinations of disorientation, hallucinations, delusions, and incoherent speech), or lethargy. * Presence of corneal hypoaesthesia; * Orbicularis weakness on the side of the ptosis * Mechanical ptosis, including ptosis due to orbital or lid tumor, cicatricial processes affecting the movements of the upper lid, and enophthalmos. * Previous ptosis surgery less than 3 months prior to Visit 1. * Lid position affected by lid or conjunctival scarring. * History of herpes keratitis. * Periocular neurotoxin (eg, Botox, Xeomin, Dysport, Myobloc) injections on the side of the ptosis within 3 months prior to Visit 1 and during the study. * History of hyperthyroidism or thyroid eye disease (ie, exophthalmos, upper eyelid retraction, diplopia secondary to extraocular muscle involvement). Hypothyroidism that is controlled on medication is allowed

Design outcomes

Primary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Interpalpebral Fissure (IPF) During Spontaneous Blink2 weeksThe primary outcome was objective measurement of the IPF midpoint height during maximum closing in five spontaneous blinks, captured with a Nikon mirrorless SLR video recording system (Z7II; Nikon USA, Melville, NY, USA), with a visible light source mounted just above the lens, measured manually with ImageJ (National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA). Spontaneous blinks are normally incomplete, a behavior that is dependent upon age, gender, task, and environmental demands. Maximum closing was defined as the three points at the base of the blink. Participants were instructed to look at the camera lens and try to relax and behave normally. Recording was stopped after 1 minute or after five spontaneous blinks, whichever came first. Recording always occurred in the same windowless clinical research room with consistent lighting, temperature, humidity, and air flow. The IPF midpoint height during maximum closing in five spontaneous blinks is averaged and reported below.

Secondary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Interpalpebral Fissure During Resting Open2 weeksResting open IPF was the median between blink-event IPF, measured automatically by a deep learning model for eyelid landmark detection. the IPF midpoint height during resting open was averaged and reported below.
Proportion of Non-closure During Volitional Blinks2 weeksAt the end of recording, participants were instructed to close their eyes completely and open completely three times, representing volitional blink trials. These were evaluated manually with ImageJ. Blinks were classified by a human rater as having complete closure, or not, and then the proportion of non-closure blinks across all subjects was calculated for each condition and reported below.
Proportion of Subjects Selecting Each Device6 weeksProportion of subjects selecting either the MLP, the KTFS or neither

Countries

United States

Participant flow

Recruitment details

Data for this study were collected at Massachusetts Eye and Ear, Boston, MA. Subjects were recruited by flyer and by referral from other ophthalmology clinics, or neurology clinics.

Pre-assignment details

One candidate was ruled as ineligible at a pre-screening visit due to lack of blepharoptosis.

Participants by arm

ArmCount
Participants
Baseline characteristics were calculated for the entire group.
15
Total15

Withdrawals & dropouts

PeriodReasonFG000FG001
Overall StudyLost to Follow-up10

Baseline characteristics

CharacteristicParticipants
Age, Continuous61 years
Baseline Interpalpebral Fissure3.89 millimeters
STANDARD_DEVIATION 2.36
Race (NIH/OMB)
American Indian or Alaska Native
0 Participants
Race (NIH/OMB)
Asian
0 Participants
Race (NIH/OMB)
Black or African American
0 Participants
Race (NIH/OMB)
More than one race
0 Participants
Race (NIH/OMB)
Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander
0 Participants
Race (NIH/OMB)
Unknown or Not Reported
0 Participants
Race (NIH/OMB)
White
15 Participants
Region of Enrollment
United States
15 Participants
Sex: Female, Male
Female
6 Participants
Sex: Female, Male
Male
9 Participants

Adverse events

Event typeEG000
affected / at risk
EG001
affected / at risk
EG002
affected / at risk
deaths
Total, all-cause mortality
0 / 150 / 150 / 15
other
Total, other adverse events
0 / 153 / 150 / 15
serious
Total, serious adverse events
0 / 150 / 150 / 15

Outcome results

Primary

Interpalpebral Fissure (IPF) During Spontaneous Blink

The primary outcome was objective measurement of the IPF midpoint height during maximum closing in five spontaneous blinks, captured with a Nikon mirrorless SLR video recording system (Z7II; Nikon USA, Melville, NY, USA), with a visible light source mounted just above the lens, measured manually with ImageJ (National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA). Spontaneous blinks are normally incomplete, a behavior that is dependent upon age, gender, task, and environmental demands. Maximum closing was defined as the three points at the base of the blink. Participants were instructed to look at the camera lens and try to relax and behave normally. Recording was stopped after 1 minute or after five spontaneous blinks, whichever came first. Recording always occurred in the same windowless clinical research room with consistent lighting, temperature, humidity, and air flow. The IPF midpoint height during maximum closing in five spontaneous blinks is averaged and reported below.

Time frame: 2 weeks

ArmMeasureValue (MEAN)
Magnetic Levator Prosthesis (MLP)Interpalpebral Fissure (IPF) During Spontaneous Blink2.4 millimeters
Kinesiotape Frontalis Sling (KTFS)Interpalpebral Fissure (IPF) During Spontaneous Blink4.1 millimeters
Baseline (Sham)Interpalpebral Fissure (IPF) During Spontaneous Blink1.1 millimeters
Comparison: Linear mixed-effects regression was used to determine the effect of treatment condition on the spontaneous blink and resting state open IPF, with participant as random intercept. Covariates of age, gender, blink sequence, and crossover order were investigated alone, and significant (P \< 0.05) covariates were included in the final model, from which the estimated marginal means and their 95% confidence interval were reported. Hypothesis: MLP allows a more complete spontaneous blink.p-value: <0.001Mixed Models Analysis
Secondary

Interpalpebral Fissure During Resting Open

Resting open IPF was the median between blink-event IPF, measured automatically by a deep learning model for eyelid landmark detection. the IPF midpoint height during resting open was averaged and reported below.

Time frame: 2 weeks

ArmMeasureValue (MEAN)
Magnetic Levator Prosthesis (MLP)Interpalpebral Fissure During Resting Open6.8 millimeters
Kinesiotape Frontalis Sling (KTFS)Interpalpebral Fissure During Resting Open7.0 millimeters
Baseline (Sham)Interpalpebral Fissure During Resting Open3.9 millimeters
Comparison: Hypothesis was that both devices (MLP and KFTS) would open the eye equally well, and that both would be better than sham treatment.p-value: 0.001Mixed Models Analysis
Secondary

Proportion of Non-closure During Volitional Blinks

At the end of recording, participants were instructed to close their eyes completely and open completely three times, representing volitional blink trials. These were evaluated manually with ImageJ. Blinks were classified by a human rater as having complete closure, or not, and then the proportion of non-closure blinks across all subjects was calculated for each condition and reported below.

Time frame: 2 weeks

ArmMeasureValue (NUMBER)
Magnetic Levator Prosthesis (MLP)Proportion of Non-closure During Volitional Blinks0.067 Proportion of Non-closure Blinks
Kinesiotape Frontalis Sling (KTFS)Proportion of Non-closure During Volitional Blinks0.356 Proportion of Non-closure Blinks
Baseline (Sham)Proportion of Non-closure During Volitional Blinks0.022 Proportion of Non-closure Blinks
Comparison: A test of proportionality was performed to determine the effect of the three treatments on the probability of the eyelid not fully closing.p-value: 0.001test of proportionality
Secondary

Proportion of Subjects Selecting Each Device

Proportion of subjects selecting either the MLP, the KTFS or neither

Time frame: 6 weeks

Population: All 15 participants were asked to chose which device they liked better, or no device. They were still masked to which was the novel/experimental treatment.

ArmMeasureValue (COUNT_OF_PARTICIPANTS)
Magnetic Levator Prosthesis (MLP)Proportion of Subjects Selecting Each Device7 Participants
Kinesiotape Frontalis Sling (KTFS)Proportion of Subjects Selecting Each Device6 Participants
Baseline (Sham)Proportion of Subjects Selecting Each Device2 Participants

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