Effects of Topical Insulin on Healing After Corneal Crosslinking in Patients with Keratoconus: A Randomized Clinical Trial

What this Trial Is About

This research aims to assess the effect of insulin eye drops on healing the corneal epithelium in non-diabetic patients undergoing corneal crosslinking for keratoconus. Corneal crosslinking is a surgical procedure that strengthens the cornea to prevent disease progression, but it requires removal of the corneal epithelium, which can cause pain and increase risks like infection and scarring. The study explores whether topical insulin can improve healing by promoting epithelial repair. Participants diagnosed with keratoconus and scheduled for crosslinking will be randomly assigned to one of two groups. One group will receive insulin eye drops at 50 IU/ml concentration, and the other will receive placebo drops containing 0.5% methylcellulose. Both groups will use their assigned drops four times a day until their corneal epithelium fully heals. Standard postoperative treatments including antibiotics, steroids, eye lubricants, and silicone-hydrogel contact lenses will be given to all participants. The study involves regular follow-up visits on days 1, 2, 3, 6, and thereafter every 48 hours until healing is complete, with additional visits on days 30 and 60. Researchers will monitor corneal healing using specialized photography, assess ocular health, measure epithelial defect size, and evaluate overall eye condition. The primary outcome is the rate of corneal epithelial healing over seven days. Participants and evaluators will be masked to treatment allocation to ensure unbiased results.

Effects of Topical Insulin on Corneal Epithelium Healing After Corneal Crosslinking in Patients With Keratoconus