View clinical trials related to Fuchs Dystrophy.
Filter by:This pilot study will compare upto 15 patients undergoing femtolaser assisted keratoplasty (using CE[Conformité Européene] approved femtolaser apparatus) with upto 15 patients undergoing conventional keratoplasty with a manual trephine. Patients will be randomly assigned to either group. All keratoplasties will be penetrating keratoplasties. The following aims of this research is detailed below: 1. Does femtosecond laser assisted keratoplasty ( FLAK ) yield faster visual recovery and better long term BCVA (Best Corrected Visual Acuity)? 2. Does FLAK offer a biomechanically stronger cornea and thereby more safety and less risk of wound dehiscence? 3. Is there any difference between FLAK and conventional keratoplasty in terms of graft failure or rejection? Follow up in best corrected visual acuity, various refraction/astigmatism measurements, intraocular pressure, graft rejection/failure rates, pachymetry and corneal hysteresis and resistance factor will be recorded at 1 day, 1 week, 1, 3 and 6 months and 1 year and 18 months postoperatively. This study, to the investigators' knowledge will be the first randomised controlled trial in this area, the first to provide an empirical measurement to biomechanical stability of the cornea with the femtolaser, and the first done in an NHS (National Health Service) setting.
The cornea forms our "window to the world". Hence, its transparency is of utmost importance for vision. Corneal endothelium plays a central role in the maintenance of a transparent corneal stroma. It limits stromal fluid uptake from the anterior chamber of the eye through the formation of tight junctions. Simultaneously, fluid is actively transported from corneal stroma into the anterior chamber. This maintains the corneal stroma in a state of relative dehydration, thereby ensuring a constant distance of stromal collagen lamellae to each other, which in turn forms the basis for transparency of this tissue. If however corneal endothelial function is impaired, stromal swelling leads to corneal clouding and loss of vision. Fuchs endothelial corneal dystrophy represents the most common form of corneal dystrophy. It occurs sporadically, however in some cases autosomal dominant inheritance has been described. This condition leads to progressive loss of corneal endothelium (typically around the age of 50-60 years), causing visual impairment due to swelling and opacification of corneal stroma. Cell culture experiments have been able to show that chemical inhibitors of Rho-Kinase promote corneal endothelial cell proliferation and reduce apoptosis, while topical application in an animal model promoted corneal endothelial wound healing. This has prompted the notion of using topical Rho-kinase-inhibitor treatment to support endothelial cell regeneration in Fuchs endothelial corneal dystrophy. Since September 2014, Rho-kinase-inhibitor eye drops (ripasudil) are clinically available in Japan for reduction of intraocular pressure in Glaucoma patients. Ripasudil eye drops therefore represent a strong candidate for safe and effective adjunctive treatment in patients with Fuchs corneal endothelial cell dystrophy.
Graft rejection has traditionally been one of the leading causes of cornea transplant failure. To help prevent rejection, corticosteroid eye drops are used for an extended period after transplant surgery. The purpose of this study is to compare the efficacy and side effects of different corticosteroid dosing regimens after endothelial keratoplasty (cornea transplant) surgery.
The purpose of this study is to compare two different commonly used steroid dosing regimens after Descemet's membrane endothelial keratoplasty (DMEK) transplant surgery. The investigators hope to determine if one is more effective at preventing rejection or if both are equally effective.
The objectives of this study are to compare the visual and refractive outcomes of deep lamellar endothelial keratoplasty (DLEK) with penetrating keratoplasty as treatment for certain cases of corneal edema due to endothelial decompensation. Additionally, data will be collected to compare corneal shape, corneal thickness, endothelial cell density, keratocyte density, corneal sensitivity, light scatter, and subjective visual function between the two procedures.