The Collaborative Longitudinal Evaluation of Keratoconus (CLEK) Study

NCT ID: NCT00000155

Last Updated: 2005-06-24

Study Results

Results pending

The study team has not published outcome measurements, participant flow, or safety data for this trial yet. Check back later for updates.

Basic Information

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Recruitment Status

UNKNOWN

Study Classification

OBSERVATIONAL

Study Start Date

1995-06-30

Brief Summary

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To describe the clinical course of keratoconus and to describe the relationships among its visual and physiological manifestations, including high- and low-contrast visual acuity, corneal curvature, slit lamp biomicroscopic findings, corneal scarring, and quality of life.

To identify risk factors and protective factors that influence the severity and progression of keratoconus.

Detailed Description

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Keratoconus is a bilateral, asymmetric, chronic, progressive ectasia of the cornea characterized by steepening and distortion of the cornea, thinning of the apical cornea, corneal scarring, and treatment-related sequelae, such as abrasions from contact lenses and surgical complications. Patients experience distorted vision that worsens with disease progression. Their vision is typically corrected with spectacles early in the disease and, later, with rigid contact lenses. Some patients eventually undergo corneal transplantation in one or both eyes. Keratoconus affects people in their prime earning years and profoundly affects their lives.

Previous large-scale studies of keratoconus have focused on incidence and prevalence, etiologies, or the clinical management of keratoconus. Few have characterized the course of the disease and risk factors for its progression in large samples of keratoconus patients. The incidence of vision-threatening corneal scarring in keratoconus is unknown. Patient's most frequent questions--how rapidly their keratoconus will progress, how bad their vision will become, whether they will need corneal surgery, how successful their contact lenses will be--cannot be answered on the basis of the current body of knowledge.

The need for a prospective, observational study of keratoconus patients is great. Results from this study will address keratoconus patient's unanswered questions and will enable eye care practitioners to manage this complex ocular disease better.

The Collaborative Longitudinal Evaluation of Keratoconus (CLEK) Study is a multicenter, observational study of 1,209 keratoconus patients followed for 3 years.

Patients are examined annually. Study measures include visual acuity, patient-reported quality of life, manifest refraction, keratometry, photodocumentation of the cornea to identify central corneal scarring, photodocumentation of the flattest contact lens that just clears the cornea, slit lamp biomicroscopy, and corneal topography. In rigid contact lens wearers, the fluorescein pattern of the patient's habitual contact lenses is photodocumented.

Patients are examined at 15 clinical centers. The clinical centers enrolled 1,209 patients in 12 months.

Conditions

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Keratoconus

Study Design

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Study Time Perspective

PROSPECTIVE

Eligibility Criteria

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Inclusion Criteria

Patients with keratoconus were eligible if they were at least 12 years old; had an irregular cornea as determined by keratometry, retinoscopy, or direct ophthalmoscopy in at least one eye; had Vogt's striae, Fleischer's ring, or corneal scarring characteristic of keratoconus in at least one eye; and planned to stay in the area for at least 3 years.

Exclusion Criteria

They were ineligible if they had bilateral corneal transplants or bilateral nonkeratoconic eye disease (cataract, intraocular lenses, macular disease, or optic nerve disease other than glaucoma).
Minimum Eligible Age

12 Years

Eligible Sex

ALL

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Sponsors

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National Eye Institute (NEI)

NIH

Sponsor Role lead

Locations

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University of California, Berkeley, School of Optometry

Berkeley, California, United States

Site Status

Southern California College of Optometry

Fullerton, California, United States

Site Status

Jules Stein Eye Institute, University of California at Los Angeles

Los Angeles, California, United States

Site Status

Nova Southeastern University, Health Professions Division, College of Optometry

Fort Lauderdale, Florida, United States

Site Status

University of Illinois at Chicago, Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences

Chicago, Illinois, United States

Site Status

Indiana University, School of Optometry

Bloomington, Indiana, United States

Site Status

University of Missouri-St. Louis, School of Optometry

St Louis, Missouri, United States

Site Status

SUNY State College of Optometry

New York, New York, United States

Site Status

University Hospitals of Cleveland, Department of Ophthalmology

Cleveland, Ohio, United States

Site Status

The Ohio State University, College of Optometry

Columbus, Ohio, United States

Site Status

Pennsylvania College of Optometry, The Eye Institute

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States

Site Status

Northeastern Eye Institute

Scranton, Pennsylvania, United States

Site Status

University of Utah, John Moran Eye Center

Salt Lake City, Utah, United States

Site Status

Gundersen Lutheran

La Crosse, Wisconsin, United States

Site Status

Countries

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United States

References

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Barr JT, Gordon MO, Zadnik K, Pellican K, Edrington TB. Photodocumentation of corneal scarring. Collaborative Longitudinal Evaluation of Keratoconus Study Group. J Refract Surg. 1996 May-Jun;12(4):492-500. doi: 10.3928/1081-597X-19960501-13.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 8771545 (View on PubMed)

Edrington TB, Barr JT, Zadnik K, Davis LJ, Gundel RE, Libassi DP, McMahon TT, Gordon MO. Standardized rigid contact lens fitting protocol for keratoconus. Optom Vis Sci. 1996 Jun;73(6):369-75. doi: 10.1097/00006324-199606000-00003.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 8807647 (View on PubMed)

Gundel RE, Libassi DP, Zadnik K, Barr JT, Davis L, McMahon TT, Edrington TB, Gordon MO. Feasibility of fitting contact lenses with apical clearance in keratoconus. Optom Vis Sci. 1996 Dec;73(12):729-32. doi: 10.1097/00006324-199612000-00002.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 9002088 (View on PubMed)

Zadnik K, Barr JT, Gordon MO, Edrington TB. Biomicroscopic signs and disease severity in keratoconus. Collaborative Longitudinal Evaluation of Keratoconus (CLEK) Study Group. Cornea. 1996 Mar;15(2):139-46. doi: 10.1097/00003226-199603000-00006.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 8925661 (View on PubMed)

Other Identifiers

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NEI-57

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: org_study_id