Management and control of corneal neovascularisation using Lucentis

• Research type

  Research Study

• Full title

  The use of Ranibizumab (Lucentis ®) for the treatment of corneal neovascularisation

• IRAS ID

  38583

• Contact name

  Harminder Dua

• Sponsor organisation

  University of Nottingham

• Eudract number

  2010-018673-37

• ISRCTN Number

  n/a

• Clinicaltrials.gov Identifier

  n/a

• Research summary

  The cornea is the transparent window of the eye, which allows light to enter into the eye and also contributes to the focusing of light rays. One of the major factors responsible for its transparency is the lack of blood vessels. However, following inflammation and infection new blood vessels (corneal vascularisation) grow into the cornea affecting its transparency and impairing vision. Presence of vessels in the cornea leads to further damage in the form of scarring, oedema, fat deposition and persistent inflammation. It is estimated that 1.4 million patients in the United States develop corneal new blood vessels per year; 4% of the US population has corneal new vessels and 20% of corneal specimen during corneal transplantation show histopathologic evidence of vascularisation. In 2000 with ethical approval (OY129801) we developed and published a clinical technique called Fine Needle Diathermy (FND) occlusion of corneal vessels[1]. This has proved very successful for occluding established vessels and is practiced in many centres across the world. Recently it has been demonstrated that by inhibiting a chemical stimulant of vessel formation called vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) active new vessel growth in the retina can be suppressed. The approach is also being attempted for corneal new vessels. Lucentis is a chemical inhibitor of VEGF and is used extensively to treat retinal new vessels of macular degeneration. Following use of another chemical inhibitor, namely Avastin, a more than 40% reduction of corneal vessels has been demonstrated. We propose to evaluate the effect of Lucentis in inhibiting corneal vessels, as it is comparatively safer. This approach to deal with active vessels will complement the FND occlusion of established new vessels. References: 1. Pillai, C.T., H.S. Dua, and P. Hossain, Fine needle diathermy occlusion of corneal vessels. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci, 2000. 41(8): p. 2148-53.

• REC name

  East Midlands - Nottingham 2 Research Ethics Committee

• REC reference

  10/H0408/12

• Date of REC Opinion

  8 Mar 2010

• REC opinion

  Further Information Favourable Opinion