Three-minute eyelid closure to improve corneal curvature readings
The Effect of Eyelid Closure on the Quality Index of Keratometric Measurements: a Non-controlled Interventional Study
This tests whether gently closing the eyelid for three minutes before corneal measurements helps improve keratometry accuracy for adults with a 'warning' keratometry quality index who are planning cataract surgery.
Quick facts
| Phase | Not applicable |
|---|---|
| Study type | Interventional |
| Enrollment | 29 (estimated) |
| Ages | 18 Years and up |
| Sex | All |
| Sponsor | Vienna Institute for Research in Ocular Surgery Academic / other |
| Locations | 1 site (Vienna, State of Vienna) |
| Trial ID | NCT07297849 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
What this trial studies
This single-site interventional protocol enrolls adults with a keratometry quality index flagged as "warning" and compares keratometry measurements before and after a three-minute period of eyelid closure. The procedure is noninvasive: standard preoperative corneal curvature (keratometry) is recorded, the participant closes the eyelid for three minutes, and keratometry is repeated to detect changes in measurement quality. Patients with severe corneal disease, recent ocular surgery, pregnancy or inability to close the eyelid are excluded. The trial is conducted at the Vienna Institute for Research in Ocular Surgery and focuses on a simple, low-risk maneuver to stabilize the tear film and reduce measurement error.
Who should consider this trial
Good fit: Adults (age 18+) preparing for cataract surgery who have a keratometry quality index of "warning" and can voluntarily and fully close their eyelids are ideal candidates.
Not a fit: Patients with severe corneal scarring or other conditions that compromise corneal integrity, recent ocular surgery, inability to close the eyelid, or unstable ocular surface disease are unlikely to benefit from this eyelid-closure intervention.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this simple maneuver could reduce preoperative keratometry error and help achieve more accurate refractive outcomes after cataract surgery.
How similar studies have performed: Prior research shows tear film stability and osmolarity affect keratometry precision and that treating dry eye can improve measurements, but brief eyelid closure as a corrective maneuver has been relatively little studied and is a novel, low-tech approach.
Eligibility criteria
Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria: * Age 18 or older * Written informed consent * Keratometry quality index "warning" Exclusion Criteria: * Severe corneal conditions that may compromise corneal integrity (such as corneal scarring, etc.) * Pregnancy (pregnancy test will be taken in women of reproductive age), nursing women * Ocular surgery in the study eye in the three months preceding the study * Inability of visual fixation (e.g. in patients with nystagmus) * Inability of eyelid closure (e.g. in patients with facial nerve paralysis)
Where this trial is running
Vienna, State of Vienna
- Vienna Institute for Research in Ocular Surgery (VIROS), Department of Ophthalmology — Vienna, State of Vienna, Austria (Recruiting)
Study contacts
- Study coordinator: Andreas Schlatter, MD
- Email: office@viros.at
- Phone: +43 1 91021 57564
How to participate
- Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
- Visit the official trial page on ClinicalTrials.gov for the most current contact information and recruitment status.
- Contact the listed study coordinator or principal investigator to request pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.