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Effectiveness of Periocular Drug Injection in CATaract Surgery

The ESCRS EPICAT Study: Effectiveness of Periocular Drug Injection in CATaract Surgery

Status
Terminated
Phases
Phase 3
Study type
Interventional
Source
ClinicalTrials.gov
Registry ID
NCT05158699
Acronym
EPICAT
Enrollment
628
Registered
2021-12-15
Start date
2021-10-13
Completion date
2024-08-13
Last updated
2024-11-04

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

Conditions

Macular Edema, Cystoid Macular Edema, Retinal Disease, Cataract, Lens Diseases, Eye Diseases

Keywords

Prevention

Brief summary

Cystoid macular edema (CME) is a major cause of suboptimal postoperative visual acuity after cataract surgery. Topical steroidal and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are used to prevent CME. However, noncompliance with eye drops may compromise the effectiveness of treatment. Dropless periocular drug delivery during cataract surgery may improve the outcomes and cost-effectiveness of cataract surgery, and may alleviate the burden on homecare organizations.

Detailed description

In a recent European multicentre study (PREvention of Macular EDema after cataract surgery; PREMED), it was demonstrated that the combination of topical corticosteroids and NSAIDs results in the lowest risk of developing CME after cataract surgery. However, noncompliance with eye drops may compromise the effectiveness of treatment. Noncompliance is often unintentional and related to forgetfulness or incorrect instillation, particularly in the elderly cataract surgery population. The objective of this study is to evaluate the effectiveness of different treatments to prevent CME after cataract surgery, using either topical drugs (control group) or intra-/periocular injections (intervention groups). The hypothesis of this study is that intra-/periocular anti-inflammatory drug delivery during cataract surgery is effective in preventing CME, with better health-related quality of life and improved cost-effectiveness compared to standard topical drug delivery. The primary outcome measure is the change in central subfield mean macular thickness (CSMT) at 6 weeks postoperatively as compared to baseline. Secondary outcome measures are the incidence of CME; the incidence of clinically significant macular edema (CSME); mean corrected distance visual acuity (CDVA); para- and perifoveal thickness and total macular volume (TMV); intraocular pressure (IOP); anterior chamber inflammation; vision-related quality of life; and cost-effectiveness. The design of this study is a European randomised controlled multicenter trial. The study population will consist of 808 patients aged 21 years or older who require cataract surgery in at least one eye. Patients with a foreseen increased risk of developing CME or ophthalmic disorders other than cataract will be excluded. Follow-up duration is 12 weeks. The study will be conducted over a period of 36 months.

Interventions

Bromfenac topical eye drops (Yellox)

DRUGDexamethasone

Dexamethasone topical eye drops

DRUGTriamcinolone Acetonide

0.25ml of 40mg/ml (10mg) triamcinolone acetonide (Triesence/Vistrec) will be injected subconjunctivally

DRUGKetorolac-Phenylephrine Ophthalmic 0.3%-1% Intraocular Solution

Omidria is added to the irrigation fluid used during cataract surgery. At the end of surgery, the anterior chamber will be filled with the ketorolac solution.

Sponsors

European Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgeons
CollaboratorOTHER
Luigi Rondas
Lead SponsorOTHER

Study design

Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
PARALLEL
Primary purpose
PREVENTION
Masking
DOUBLE (Caregiver, Outcomes Assessor)

Masking description

Masking will be achieved as much as possible. As there is an objective primary outcome, it will not be necessary to replace medicines by sham injections or placebo eye drops. Moreover, the ophthalmologist who performs the cataract surgery will not be blinded for treatment allocation of the subject. The study statistician, the data safety monitoring group, optometrists who perform the examinations (especially visual acuity) and observers who evaluate the examinations and OCTs will be masked when possible for treatment allocation.

Intervention model description

A block randomization procedure will be followed to acquire equal number of subjects in every treatment group. Patients are randomly allocated to 1 of 4 treatment groups in a 1:1:1:1 ratio. The various study centres will be taken into account during randomization.

Eligibility

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

Inclusion criteria

* who are undergoing routine phacoemulsification (one eye per patient); * who are 21 years or older; * who should be able to communicate properly and understand instructions. * willing and/or able to comply with the scheduled visits and other study procedures.

Exclusion criteria

* patients who already participated with their contralateral eye; * combined surgery (e.g. combined phacoemulsification and trabeculectomy); * patients with an increased risk of developing cystoid macular edema (CME) in the study eye (e.g. diabetes mellitus, previous retinal venous occlusion, or a history of uveitis, macular edema, epiretinal membrane, or previous retinal surgery); * patients who developed CME after cataract surgery in the contralateral eye; * patients with cystoid macular changes in the study eye at baseline; * patients with an increased risk of developing perioperative complications (e.g. Fuchs' endothelial dystrophy); * patients with permanent moderate visual impairment in the contralateral eye (decimal visual acuity less than 0.3); * patients with a history of steroid induced IOP rise or glaucomatous visual field loss; * patients using drugs that reduce or increase the risk of macular edema (e.g., periocular or intraocular corticosteroid, NSAID, or antivascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) injection; topical corticosteroid or NSAID use; systemic corticosteroids (\>= 20mg prednisolon), methotrexate, biologicals, or acetazolamide), or in the previous 4 months; * patients with a contraindication for any of the investigated drugs; * patients who are cardiovascular unstable; * patients who have a history of hyperthyroidism.

Design outcomes

Primary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Change in central subfield mean macular thickness as a measurement of efficacyBaseline, 6 weeks postoperativelyThe primary endpoint is the change in central subfield mean macular thickness in the 1 mm area (central subfield macular thickness, CSMT) as compared to baseline within the first 6 weeks postoperatively, measured using Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT)

Secondary

MeasureTime frameDescription
No. of subjects developing clinically significant macular edema as a measurement of efficacyUntil 12 weeks postoperativelyThe occurrence of postoperative clinically significant macular edema (CSME) within 12 weeks postoperatively
Change in parafoveal retinal thickness in the central inner circle (1.0 - 3.0mm) as a measurement of efficacyBaseline, 6 weeks and 12 weeks postoperativelyMeasured using OCT
Change in perifoveal retinal thickness in the central outer circle (3.0 - 6.0mm) as a measurement of efficacyBaseline, 6 weeks and 12 weeks postoperativelyMeasured using OCT
Change in macular volume in the central 6.0mm area as a measurement of efficacyBaseline, 6 weeks and 12 weeks postoperativelyMeasured using OCT
Change in corrected distance visual acuity (CDVA) as a measurement of efficacyBaseline, 1 week, 6 weeks, and 12 weeks postoperativelyCDVA measurements will be taken using Early Treatment Diabetic Retinopathy Study (ETDRS) visual acuity testing charts (logMAR)
Change in Intraocular pressure (IOP) as a measurement of safetyBaseline, 1 week, 6 weeks, and 12 weeks postoperativelyIOP (in mmHg) will be measured by Goldmann applanation tonometry (preferred), Non-Contact Tonometry, or iCare tonometry
Anterior chamber inflammation as a measurement of safetyBaseline, 1 week , 6 weeks, and 12 weeks postoperativelyGrading will be performed using the classification of the Standardization of Uveitis Nomenclature (SUN) working group using a 2mm long and 1mm wide slit beam: 1. grading aqueous cells between grade 0 \[\<1cell, best outcome\] up to grade +4 \[\>50 cells, worse outcome\] 2. grading aqueous flare between grade 0 \[none detectable\] up to +4 \[intense aqeous flare or fibrinous exudate\] Higher grade scores mean a worse outcome.
No. of subjects with Adverse Events as a measurement of safety and tolerabilityUntil 12 weeks postoperativelyAn adverse event (AE) is defined as any undesirable experience occurring to a subject during the study, whether or not considered related to the investigational product. All adverse events reported spontaneously by the subject or observed by the principal investigator or his staff will be recorded. Most frequently reported adverse events which might occur while using the study medication: abnormal sensation in the eye, pain or irritation, redness or headache while using eye drops; increased IOP and masking of infections while using corticosteroids; abnormal sensation in the eye, pain or irritation, conjunctival hyperaemia, inflammation and corneal edema after intracameral injection with phenylephrine/ketorolac.
Patient reported outcome measures (PROMs): NEI VFQ-25Baseline and 12 weeks postoperativelyPatient satisfaction and vision-specific quality of life as measured by National Eye Institute Visual Function Questionnaire (NEI VFQ-25). From 25 questions, the original numeric values given (1-10) are converted to a 0 to 100 scale, so that the scores are set between 0 points (worst outcome) and 100 points (best outcome).
Change in central subfield mean macular thickness as a measurement of efficacyBaseline, 12 weeks postoperativelyMeasured using OCT
Patient reported outcome measures (PROMs): HUI3Baseline and 12 weeks postoperativelyHealth-related quality of life as measured by HUI3 (Health Utility Index Mark 3) questionnaire. The HUI3 questionnaire consists of 8 attributes, including vision, hearing, speech, ambulation, dexterity, emotion, cognition, and pain. For each attribute, the HUI3 questionnaire provides utility (preference) scores on a generic scale where dead = 0.00 and perfect health = 1.00.
Patient reported outcome measures (PROMs): EQ-5D-5LBaseline and 12 weeks postoperativelyHealth-related quality of life as measured by the 5-level EQ-5D version (EQ-5D-5L) questionnaire. The EQ-5D-5L consists of the EQ-5D descriptive system and the EQ visual analogue scale (EQ VAS). 1. The EQ-5D descriptive system results in a number between 1 (best) and 5 (worse) that expresses the level selected for that dimension. 2. The EQ VAS indicates the general health status with 0 indicating the worst and 100 indicating the best health status.
Quality Adjusted Life Years (QALYs)Baseline until 12 weeks postoperativelyCalculated based on generic health-related quality of life, using the EQ-5D-5L and HUI-3 questionnaires
Costs per patientBaseline until 12 weeks postoperativelyCost per patient, including valuation of resource use by using the Dutch guidelines for cost-analyses or cost prices provided by the medical center.
Incremental cost-effectiveness ratios (ICERs): QALYBaseline until 12 weeks postoperativelyEvaluation of cost-effectiveness by using calculated costs per quality-adjusted life years (QALYs)
Incremental cost-effectiveness ratios (ICERs): NEI VFQ-25Baseline until 12 weeks postoperativelyCalculated costs per clinically improved patient on the NEI VFQ-25 questionnaire
Incremental cost-effectiveness ratios (ICERs): CatquestBaseline until 12 weeks postoperativelyCalculated costs per clinically improved patient on the Catquest questionnaire
Incremental cost-effectiveness ratios (ICERs): Visual acuityBaseline until 12 weeks postoperativelyCalculated costs per patient with clinical improvement in (un)corrected distance visual acuity
Budget impactBaseline until 12 weeks postoperativelyReported as a difference in costs. Different scenario's will be compared to investigate the impact of various levels of implementation (e.g. 25%, 50%, 75% of eligible patients).
Patient reported outcome measures (PROMs): Catquest-9SFBaseline and 12 weeks postoperativelyPatient satisfaction and vision-specific quality of life as measured by the Catquest-9SF questionnaire. The possible range in Catquest scores are -3.94 (no difficulties) to +3.52 (great difficulties).

Countries

Austria, Germany, Netherlands, Portugal

Outcome results

None listed

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