An interventional study of Crosslinking with riboflavin of the corneal graft-support and De-epithelisation of the corneal graft support with instillation of riboflavin in Corneal Melting in Boston Keratoprosthesis Type I, sponsored by Centre hospitalier de l'Université de Montréal (CHUM). Recruiting at 1 site in Canada. Open to participants aged 18 Years to 80 Years. Per ClinicalTrials.gov, last updated 2026-04-28.
Sponsored by Centre hospitalier de l'Université de Montréal (CHUM) · Not applicable, Interventional, and Treatment
The purpose of this study is to demonstrate the safety and efficacy of the corneal collagen crosslinking with riboflavin and ultraviolet A in aim to increase the resistance of the graft used as a support for the Boston keratoprosthesis (KPro) type I against corneal melting (keratolysis or sterile necrosis).
The Boston type 1 keratoprosthesis (KPro) is an artificial cornea that restores the clarity of the visual axis. It is indicated in patients for whom conventional corneal transplantation offers a very low probability of success. Several innovations have led to improved outcomes following implantation of a KPro. However, retention of the KPro varies between 83 and 100% in the most recent series. The extrusion of the KPro is usually caused by the melting of the corneal tissue (keratolysis or sterile necrosis) used as a support.
This corneal melting is mediated by enzymes from the class of the matrix metalloproteinases (MMP). Several different types of insults may lead to an excess of these enzymes. Chronic inflammation of the ocular surface is undoubtedly the best recognized risk factor. Indeed, autoimmune diseases such as Stevens-Johnson syndrome, Lyell syndrome (toxic epidermal necrolysis, TENS) and mucous membrane pemphigoid, has the highest rate of corneal melting post KPro. Moreover, the development of a retroprosthetic membrane has recently been recognized as a risk factor for melting. Furthermore, the dryness of the corneal epithelium, due to insufficient tear production or an alteration of the blink reflex of the eye, can also lead to an overexpression of MMP. Finally, infectious keratitis can lead to significant thinning of the corneal tissue, even once the infectious process is resolved.
Corneal collagen cross-linking is a technique approved by Health Canada for strengthening the biomechanical properties of the cornea. The crosslinked corneas become more resistant to collagenase and other MMP. The use of a crosslinked corneal graft as a support for the KPro is an interesting approach to the prevention of corneal melting.
A prospective, randomized, controlled and double-blind study will be conducted with patients receiving a Kpro at the Centre Hospitalier de l'Université de Montréal. Forty patients will be randomized into two groups, half will receive KPro in a crosslinked graft-support, while the other half will receive a usual graft-support. Patients will be met by their surgeon to discuss the risks, benefits of the KPro type I and alternatives treatments. Patients accepting KPro surgery, will be informed of the nature and course of the study and will be offered to participate in the study. The Eye bank of Canada will manage the randomization and maintain the codes identifying the crosslinked corneas from the untreated corneas, keeping both the surgeon and the patient blinded. Randomization will be done through a free application (http://www.randomizer.org/form.htm). A series of 10 numbers will be generated. Even numbers indicate crosslinked corneas and odd numbers indicate non-crosslinked corneas. The order of the digits will increase as for each subject is enrolled in the study. The procedure for corneal collagen crosslinking will be performed at the Eye Bank of Canada in a similar procedure to the treatment for keratoconus. Under sterile conditions, the corneo-scleral button will be inspected to meet the standard of care. If the patient is randomized to the crosslinked group, then the cornea will be treated with crosslinking as described further. If the patient is randomized the control group, the cornea will not be treated with crosslink but will be deepithelialized and soaked with riboflavin drops as described further.
The surgeon will receive the graft and operate according to the standard procedure. The KPro surgery and postoperative care will be performed in the standard way and thus will be the same for both study groups. Postoperative follow will be held at 1 day, 1 week, 2 weeks, 1 month and 3 months and will continue subsequently every 2-4 months depending on the judgment of the surgeon. These visits will include measurement of visual acuity and intraocular pressure and a full slit-lamp examination. In particular, the presence of corneal melting, leakage of aqueous humor, corneal infection and extrusion will be noted. Meanwhile, an imaging allowing quantification of the thickness of the cornea graft-support (optical coherence tomography anterior segment) will be performed at least once during the first three months postoperative. This imaging will be repeated at 1, 2 and 5 years.
The prevalence of various complications (melting, leak, infection, extrusion) will be compared between the two groups with the Fischer exact test. Also, the time between surgery and the occurrence of complications will be compared using the Student t test. Finally, survival analysis of Kaplan-Meier will be performed for 1) the occurrence of corneal melting and 2) maintaining a visual acuity greater than 20/200.
Centre hospitalier de l'Université de Montréal (CHUM) is the lead sponsor of 370 studies on the registry; 110 are open to participants now.
Counted across the registry records on this site, refreshed daily.
Exclusion Criteria:
Contraindications to the KPro type I:
Patient will receive a crosslinked corneal graft-support for the KPro type I. Under sterile conditions, the corneo-scleral button will be inspected, then placed on an artificial anterior chamber. The epithelium of the donor will be removed mechanically. Then one drop of riboflavin 0.1%/dextran 20% will be applied to 3 minutes on the de-epithelialized cornea for 15 minutes. Then, the source of ultraviolet A (UVA) will be irradiating the cornea for 30 minutes with a wavelength of 370 nanometer(nm) length with 5.4 joules(J)/ square centimeter (cm2) and 3 milliwatts(mW)/cm2. Meanwhile, the instillation of a drop of 0.1% riboflavin/dextran 20% continues every 5 minutes. Goggles against UVA are mandatory. The crosslinked graft-support will be forwarded to the surgeon according to standard procedure.
Procedure: Crosslinking with riboflavin of the corneal graft-support
Patient wil receive a normal graft-support for the KPro type I. Under sterile conditions, the corneo-scleral button will be inspected, then placed on an artificial anterior chamber. The epithelium of the donor will be removed mechanically. Then, one drop of riboflavin 0.1% / dextran 20% will be applied to 30 secondes for 5 minutes on the de-epithelialized cornea.The minimally manipulated normal graft-support will be forwarded to the surgeon according to standard procedure.
Procedure: De-epithelisation of the corneal graft support with instillation of riboflavin
Corneal graft support for the KPro will be crosslinked and used with the standard surgical technique
Corneal graft-support will be de-epithelialized and soaked with riboflavin and then used with the standard surgical technique
Examine whether the use of crosslinked cornea decreases the rate of corneal melting post-Kpro when compared to using a standard corneal button
This visit will include measurement of visual acuity and intraocular pressure and a full slit-lamp examination.
Time frame: 1 day
Examine whether the use of crosslinked cornea decreases the rate of corneal melting post-Kpro when compared to using a standard corneal button
This visit will include measurement of visual acuity and intraocular pressure and a full slit-lamp examination.
Time frame: 1 week
Examine whether the use of crosslinked cornea decreases the rate of corneal melting post-Kpro when compared to using a standard corneal button
This visit will include measurement of visual acuity and intraocular pressure and a full slit-lamp examination.
Time frame: 2 weeks
Examine whether the use of crosslinked cornea decreases the rate of corneal melting post-Kpro when compared to using a standard corneal button
This visits will include measurement of visual acuity and intraocular pressure and a full slit-lamp examination.
Time frame: 1 month
Examine whether the use of crosslinked cornea decreases the rate of corneal melting post-Kpro when compared to using a standard corneal button
An imaging allowing quantification of the thickness of the cornea graft-support (optical coherence tomography anterior segment) will be performed.
Time frame: 1 month
Examine whether the use of crosslinked cornea decreases the rate of corneal melting post-Kpro when compared to using a standard corneal button
This visit will include measurement of visual acuity and intraocular pressure and a full slit-lamp examination.
Time frame: 3 months
Examine whether the use of crosslinked cornea decreases the rate of corneal melting post-Kpro when compared to using a standard corneal button
These visits will include measurement of visual acuity and intraocular pressure and a full slit-lamp examination.
Time frame: Every 2-4 months depending on the judgment of the surgeon for at least 5 years
Examine whether the use of crosslinked cornea decreases the rate of corneal melting post-Kpro when compared to using a standard corneal button
An imaging allowing quantification of the thickness of the cornea graft-support (optical coherence tomography anterior segment) will be performed.
Time frame: 1 year
Examine whether the use of crosslinked cornea decreases the rate of corneal melting post-Kpro when compared to using a standard corneal button
An imaging allowing quantification of the thickness of the cornea graft-support (optical coherence tomography anterior segment) will be performed.
Time frame: 2 years
Examine whether the use of crosslinked cornea decreases the rate of corneal melting post-Kpro when compared to using a standard corneal button
An imaging allowing quantification of the thickness of the cornea graft-support (optical coherence tomography anterior segment) will be performed.
Time frame: 5 years
Comparison of the rates of infectious keratitis between the groups
This visit will include measurement of visual acuity and intraocular pressure and a full slit-lamp examination.
Time frame: 1 day
Comparison of the rates of infectious keratitis between the groups
This visit will include measurement of visual acuity and intraocular pressure and a full slit-lamp examination.
Time frame: 1 week
Comparison of the rates of infectious keratitis between the groups
This visit will include measurement of visual acuity and intraocular pressure and a full slit-lamp examination.
Time frame: 2 weeks
Comparison of the rates of infectious keratitis between the groups
This visit will include measurement of visual acuity and intraocular pressure and a full slit-lamp examination.
Time frame: 1 month
Comparison of the rates of infectious keratitis between the groups
This visits will include measurement of visual acuity and intraocular pressure and a full slit-lamp examination.
Time frame: 3 months
Comparison of the rates of infectious keratitis between the groups
These visits will include measurement of visual acuity and intraocular pressure and a full slit-lamp examination.
Time frame: Every to 2-4 months depending on the judgment of the surgeon for at least 5 years
Comparison of the rates of extrusion of the KPro between the groups
This visit will include measurement of visual acuity and intraocular pressure and a full slit-lamp examination.
Time frame: 1 day
Comparison of the rates of extrusion of the KPro between the groups
This visit will include measurement of visual acuity and intraocular pressure and a full slit-lamp examination.
Time frame: 1 week
Comparison of the rates of extrusion of the KPro between the groups
This visit will include measurement of visual acuity and intraocular pressure and a full slit-lamp examination.
Time frame: 2 weeks
Comparison of the rates of extrusion of the KPro between the groups
This visit will include measurement of visual acuity and intraocular pressure and a full slit-lamp examination.
Time frame: 1 month
Comparison of the rates of extrusion of the KPro between the groups
This visit will include measurement of visual acuity and intraocular pressure and a full slit-lamp examination.
Time frame: 3 months
Comparison of the rates of extrusion of the KPro between the groups
These visits will include measurement of visual acuity and intraocular pressure and a full slit-lamp examination.
Time frame: Every to 2-4 months depending on the judgment of the surgeon for at least 5 years
Comparison of the visual acuity between the groups
This visit will include measurement of visual acuity and intraocular pressure and a full slit-lamp examination.
Time frame: 1 day
Comparison of the visual acuity between the groups
This visit will include measurement of visual acuity and intraocular pressure and a full slit-lamp examination.
Time frame: 1 week
Comparison of the visual acuity between the groups
This visit will include measurement of visual acuity and intraocular pressure and a full slit-lamp examination.
Time frame: 2 weeks
Comparison of the visual acuity between the groups
This visit will include measurement of visual acuity and intraocular pressure and a full slit-lamp examination.
Time frame: 1 month
Comparison of the visual acuity between the groups
This visit will include measurement of visual acuity and intraocular pressure and a full slit-lamp examination.
Time frame: 3 months
Comparison of the visual acuity between the groups
This visit will include measurement of visual acuity and intraocular pressure and a full slit-lamp examination.
Time frame: Every to 2-4 months depending on the judgment of the surgeon for at least 5 years
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Centre hospitalier de l'Université de Montréal (CHUM)