Clinical Trial Comparing Two Non-Surgical Treatments for Severe Blepharoptosis

Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary16 enrolled

Overview

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).

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.

Study Type

INTERVENTIONAL

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Purpose

TREATMENT

Masking

TRIPLE

Enrollment

Conditions

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

Interventions

Magnetic Levator Prosthesis (MLP)DEVICE

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.

Kinesiotape Frontalis Sling (KTFS)DEVICE

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.

Eligibility

Sex: ALLMin age: 5 Years

Medical Language ↔ Plain English

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

Locations (1)

Massachusetts Eye and Ear

Boston, Massachusetts, United States

Outcomes

Primary Outcomes

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

Secondary Outcomes

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

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

Proportion of Subjects Selecting Each Device

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

Time frame: 6 weeks

Data from ClinicalTrials.gov

This platform is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional.