New combo treatment may sharpen vision in keratoconus patients
NCT ID NCT07372911
First seen Jun 27, 2026 · Last updated Jun 27, 2026
Summary
This study tests whether combining a laser vision correction (PRK) with corneal cross-linking improves eyesight and corneal shape better than cross-linking alone in people with keratoconus, a condition that thins and bulges the cornea. Fifty adults aged 18-40 with mild to moderate keratoconus will be randomly assigned to one of two groups. The main goal is to see if the combination leads to better corrected vision after one year.
What this could mean
Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only, not medical advice or a prediction.
- Active substance
- Excimer laser (PRK) and riboflavin-UVA cross-linking
- What this could lead to
- If successful, this approach could offer better vision correction and corneal stability for people with keratoconus, potentially reducing the need for glasses or contact lenses.
- What could go wrong
- This is a small, early-stage trial with only 50 participants, so results may not apply to everyone. Risks include corneal haze, infection, or no significant improvement over standard treatment.
This is an AI summary of the original study and may miss details. Read our disclaimer.
Study facts
What this study's own registry entry says, in plain language.
- Phase
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Not a phased trial
Phase numbers describe drug development. The registry uses this when they do not apply, as it does for trials of devices, procedures or behaviour changes, and for observational studies.
- Participants
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About 50 people
The number the study aims to enrol. It can still change while the study runs.
- Started
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Sep 2025
- Expected to finish
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Dec 2027
An estimate. End dates often move.
- Lead sponsor
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Other sponsor
The registry's catch-all category, for sponsors it does not file as a company, a government agency, or a research network.
Who can take part
This study's own entry requirements. Only the study team can say for certain whether you qualify.
- Ages
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18 years and older
- Sex
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Anyone
- Healthy volunteers
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Not accepted
This study is not open to healthy volunteers. The entry requirements below say who it is open to.
Show the full entry requirements Hide the full entry requirements
Copied word for word from the study's registry entry, so the wording is the study team's rather than ours.
Inclusion Criteria: * Age 18-40 years * Diagnosis of keratoconus, ABCD Belin stage I-III at baseline * Minimum (thinnest) corneal pachymetry ≥ 450 µm pre-op * Written informed consent * Age-stratified progression requirements: * 18-25 y: keratoconus stage I-III (progression not mandatory) * 25-35 y: documented progression (meet ≥ 2 Table-1 criteria below) or, if recent documentation is absent, high-risk features for future progression: Kmax \> 53 D, strong family history, severe atopy with persistent eye rubbing, or any of the following over 12 months: ΔKmax ≥ 1.0 D, thinnest pachymetry decrease ≥ 10 µm, or increase in manifest cylinder ≥ 1.0 D * 35-40 y: clear, unequivocal recent progression (meet ≥ 2 Table-1 criteria); late-onset documented progression may be considered Exclusion Criteria: * Central corneal scars or opacities * Prior ocular surgery or trauma (exception: prior LASIK if it is the cause of post-surgical ectasia, per protocol text) * Autoimmune disease or uncontrolled diabetes mellitus * Pregnancy or lactation * Contact lens wear within 2 weeks before baseline evaluation
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Conditions
The condition(s) this trial relates to.
As listed by the trial registrant
The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.
How to take part
Only the study team decides who joins. These are the ways to reach them.
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The places running it
1 site. The list below names each one and where it is.
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The official record
ClinicalTrials.gov lists the study team's own contact details, including names and phone numbers. We don't republish those.
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A doctor treating you
A doctor who knows your case can contact a study site on your behalf, and can tell you whether this study is worth pursuing at all.
Contacts and locations
Locations
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Instituto de Oftalmología FAP Conde de Valenciana, IAP Sede Centro
RECRUITINGMexico City, Mexico City, 06800, Mexico
More trials for these conditions
Other studies related to the condition(s) this trial covers.
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- Insulin eye drops put to the test for faster corneal healing
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