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Protection of Corneal Epithelium Using Chitosan-N-acetylcysteine Eye Drops During and/or After Cataract Surgery

Protection of Corneal Epithelium Using Chitosan-N-acetylcysteine Eye Drops During and/or After Cataract Surgery: a Pilot Study

Status
Completed
Phases
NA
Study type
Interventional
Source
ClinicalTrials.gov
Registry ID
NCT05064189
Enrollment
45
Registered
2021-10-01
Start date
2021-04-14
Completion date
2021-09-10
Last updated
2021-10-01

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

Conditions

Eye Diseases

Brief summary

The aim of this study is to assess if treatment with Lacrimera® eye drops (Croma-Pharma GbmH, Leobendorf, Austria) during and/ or after cataract surgery has a positive effect on the ocular surface compared to control group.

Detailed description

Prior to surgery, pre-assessment measurements will be performed in the same fashion as for non-study patients. Patients will be randomized to one of the 3 groups in a 1:1:1 fashion using an online randomization tool (www.randomizer.org, list randomizer). Surgery is performed in topical anaesthesia. Right after topical anaesthesia, patients allocated to Group 3 will receive 1 drop of Lacrimera® in the study eye. Injection of viscoelastic substance (OVD), capsulorhexis, phacoemulsification, and coaxial irrigation/ aspiration of cortical material are performed as standard procedure. After IOL implantation the OVD will be removed and at the end of the surgery, stromal hydration will be performed to the incision as a routine procedure to seal the wound. Right after the wound is sealed, patients allocated to group 2 and group 3 will receive 1 drop of Lacrimera® in the study eye. Postoperative standard medication (Bromfenac gtt., twice a day for 4 weeks) will be prescribed for all groups.

Interventions

DEVICELacrimera

A new preservative-free formulation of eye drops consists of a novel biopolymer, chitosan-N-acetylcysteine (C-NAC; Lacrimera®, Croma-Pharma GmbH, Leobendorf, Austria), which electrostatically binds to the mucine layer of the tear film forming a glycocalyx-like structure.

Sponsors

Vienna Institute for Research in Ocular Surgery
Lead SponsorOTHER

Study design

Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
PARALLEL
Primary purpose
SUPPORTIVE_CARE
Masking
NONE

Eligibility

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

Inclusion criteria

* Age 22 or older * Scheduled for cataract surgery * Normal findings in the medical history and physical examination unless the investigator considers an abnormality to be clinically irrelevant * Written informed consent prior to surgery

Exclusion criteria

* Relevant other ophthalmic diseases such as pseudoexfoliation syndrome (PEX), Intraoperative Floppy Iris Syndrome (IFIS), cornea pathology (e.g. corneal scars, etc.) * Usage of eye drops other than lubricants (e.g. antibiotics, steroids, cyclosporin-A) * Previous ocular surgery or trauma in the study eye within 6 months of the cataract surgery * Active ocular infection or inflammation * Pregnancy (pregnancy test will be taken in women of reproductive age) * Subjects with surgery longer than 30 minutes will be excluded and replaced

Design outcomes

Primary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Difference in National Eye Institute Grading Scale (NEI Score)Day 0Difference in National Eye Institute Grading Scale (NEI Score) between baseline and 1 hour post cataract surgery

Secondary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Difference in number of MMP-9 positive eyes7 days +/- 1 dayDifference in number of MMP-9 positive eyes before surgery and 1 week after surgery in the different groups
Difference in NEI Score between all visits post-operatively in the different groups7 days +/- 1 dayDifference in NEI Score between all visits post-operatively in the different groups
Difference in break-up time and non-invasive break-up time between the groups at all visits7 days +/- 1 dayDifference in break-up time and non-invasive break-up time between the groups at all visits
Subjective complaints using VAS7 days +/- 1 daySubjective complaints in the 3 groups using VAS
Subjective complaints using OSDI score7 days +/- 1 daySubjective complaints in the 3 groups using OSDI score
Difference in break-up time and non-invasive break-up time between baseline and 1 week post-operatively in the different groups7 days +/- 1 dayDifference in break-up time and non-invasive break-up time between baseline and 1 week post-operatively in the different groups
Difference in NEI Score between the groups at all visits7 days +/- 1 dayDifference in NEI Score between the groups at all visits

Countries

Austria

Outcome results

None listed

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