Progressive Disease of CorneaeRelex-SmileNCT04848740
Human Fresh Corneal Lenticule Implantation Criteria in Progressive Corneal Disease Using Relex-Smile
A study testing ReLex-smile in people with Progressive Disease of Corneae, run by Eye Hospital Pristina Kosovo at 1 site in Kosovo.
Trial summary
Stroma is a fibrous, tough, transparent and the thickest layer of the corneae. The stroma is composed of organised collagen, which maintains transparency. Keratocytes are located between the lamella collagen fibers and secrete an extracellular matrix, which includes collagen, proteoglycan, crystalline proteins to… Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 20 to 60 years
- Conditions the study is for
- Progressive Disease of Corneae
- What is being tested?
- ReLex-smile
- Type of treatment
- Medical device
- Could I receive a placebo?
- No, everyone receives an active treatment
- How many people
- 100 participants
- Where
- 1 siteKosovo
- Study dates
- 1 Feb 2018to 1 Feb 2027
- Phase
- Interventional
- Are there results?
- Not yet: the study is under way
Key requirements
Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.
- Ages 20 to 60 years
- All sexes
- No healthy volunteers
- Adult
Who may be able to join
- progressive corneal disease with thin corneal thickness
- corneal low transparenc
- low visual acuity
Who cannot join
- active anterior segment pathology
- previous corneal or anterior segment surgery
- other infection etc.
Trial locations and contacts
1 site in 1 country. Contact the study team or a site near you to ask about taking part.
About this study
Stroma is a fibrous, tough, transparent and the thickest layer of the corneae. The stroma is composed of organised collagen, which maintains transparency. Keratocytes are located between the lamella collagen fibers and secrete an extracellular matrix, which includes collagen, proteoglycan, crystalline proteins to maintain corneal transparency.
Read the detailed description
Knowing the importance of stroma(90%) in function and anatomy of corneae (transparence, curvature, strength, protection) the inner eye structures from external environment, we have examined the role and function of stroma as a main factor of corneal thickness in implanting fresh corneal lenticule in progressive corneal disease.
We have studied that in many clinical cases where the corneal epithelium and endothelium are healthy and functioning, the cornea can still lose it's transparency by different corneal stromal pathologies (infection ,keratoconus, inflammation ,neurodegeneration and corneal dystrophies).
- Conditions
- Progressive Disease of Corneae
- Being tested
- ReLex-smile
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
ReLex-smileDevice
Using VisuMax femtosecond laser we created the stromal pocket with diameter of 7.6 to 8.0 mm (1 mm larger than the optical zone of the donor lenticule) and cap thickness set to 130 μm from corneal surface and 4 mm superior incision. Hinge position flap was set at 90° angle 50° and width 4 mm, side cut angle 90°. The pocket was dissected using a blunt spatula washed with normal saline. The lenticule was held with lenticule forceps and gently inserted into the pocket through the 4 mm superior incision. Incision position changed according to the position of the highest K values We noticed during intervention that implantation of fresh lenticule depends from corneal thickness, for example if c.th.is 300-400 μm we implanted 1/2 stroma, if c.th.is 400 μm or more we implanted 1/3 stroma Example: if corneal thickness is 300 μm we implanted 150 μm (becoming 450 μm) we added more stroma due to more live keratocytes and stromal steam cells, aiming to overcome dead and non-functional keratocytes
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| FRESH CORNEAL LENTICULE IMPLANTATION | Other | The aim in our study is to describe the importance of stroma as criteria of corneal thickness at implanting human fresh corneal lenticule in progressive corneal disease.
We have conclude that every biomechanical instability of corneal stroma function(abnormal increase collagen activity,decrease proteinase inhibitors,excessive premature keratocyte apoptosis) describe the role of stroma in corneal thickness. Receives: Device: ReLex-smile |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
Increase of corneal thickness
Increase of corneal central thickness using human fresh corneal lenticule with stromal stem cells and live keratocytes
Measured: 24 months
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted19 Apr 2021
- Study start1 Feb 2018
- Primary completion1 Feb 2027 (estimated)
- Study completion1 Feb 2027 (estimated)
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Other trials for Progressive Disease of CorneaeStudies of the same condition, open and under way.
- What the trial phases meanHow a treatment moves from first tests in people to approval.
More details
For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.
Study design
- Study type
- Interventional
- Phase
- Phase N/A
- Primary purpose
- Treatment
- Allocation
- Not applicable
- Intervention model
- Single group
- Masking
- None (open label)
- Enrolment
- 100 participants (estimated)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- Eye Hospital Pristina Kosovo
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Responsible party
- Principal investigator, Dr. Faruk Semiz, Eye Hospital Pristina Kosovo
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT04848740
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- EyeHPristina1
- Acronym
- Relex-Smile
- Status last verified
- Jul 2026
- First submitted
- 14 Apr 2021
- Last updated
- 29 Jul 2026
- Results posted
- No
- Data monitoring committee
- No
- FDA-regulated drug
- No
- FDA-regulated device
- No
- Individual data sharing
- Undecided
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 29 Jul 2026. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- Human Fresh Corneal Lenticule Implantation Criteria in Progressive Corneal Disease Using Relex-Smile
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT04848740
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- Relex-Smile / EyeHPristina1
- Conditions
- Progressive Disease of Corneae
- Study type
- Interventional
- Recruitment status
- Enrolling by invitation
- Enrolment
- 100 participants (estimated)
- Lead sponsor
- Eye Hospital Pristina KosovoUniversity, hospital or other
- Study start
- 1 Feb 2018 (actual)
- Primary completion
- 1 Feb 2027 (estimated)
- Study completion
- 1 Feb 2027 (estimated)
- First posted
- 19 Apr 2021 (actual)
- Results
- Not posted in the source record
Clinical summary
The research question as the sponsor registered it. This describes what the study plans to test, not what it found.
Stroma is a fibrous, tough, transparent and the thickest layer of the corneae. The stroma is composed of organised collagen, which maintains transparency. Keratocytes are located between the lamella collagen fibers and secrete an extracellular matrix, which includes collagen, proteoglycan, crystalline proteins to maintain corneal transparency.
Detailed description
Knowing the importance of stroma(90%) in function and anatomy of corneae (transparence, curvature, strength, protection) the inner eye structures from external environment, we have examined the role and function of stroma as a main factor of corneal thickness in implanting fresh corneal lenticule in progressive corneal disease.
We have studied that in many clinical cases where the corneal epithelium and endothelium are healthy and functioning, the cornea can still lose it's transparency by different corneal stromal pathologies (infection ,keratoconus, inflammation ,neurodegeneration and corneal dystrophies).
Study design
- Primary purpose
- Treatment
- Allocation
- Not applicable
- Intervention model
- Single group
- Masking
- None (open label)
- Number of arms
- 1
| Arm | Type | Receives |
|---|---|---|
| FRESH CORNEAL LENTICULE IMPLANTATION | Other | Device: ReLex-smileThe aim in our study is to describe the importance of stroma as criteria of corneal thickness at implanting human fresh corneal lenticule in progressive corneal disease. We have conclude that every biomechanical instability of corneal stroma function(abnormal increase collagen activity,decrease proteinase inhibitors,excessive premature keratocyte apoptosis) describe the role of stroma in corneal thickness. |
Who may qualify
- Ages
- 20 to 60 years
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Not accepted
- Age groups
- Adult
Key inclusion criteria (3 listed)
- progressive corneal disease with thin corneal thickness
- corneal low transparenc
- low visual acuity
Key exclusion criteria (3 listed)
- active anterior segment pathology
- previous corneal or anterior segment surgery
- other infection etc.
Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening; this overview does not establish that a patient qualifies. Full inclusion and exclusion criteria.
Interventions
| Intervention | Type | Arms |
|---|---|---|
| ReLex-smileUsing VisuMax femtosecond laser we created the stromal pocket with diameter of 7.6 to 8.0 mm (1 mm larger than the optical zone of the donor lenticule) and cap thickness set to 130 μm from corneal surface and 4 mm superior incision. Hinge position flap was set at 90° angle 50° and width 4 mm, side cut angle 90°. The pocket was dissected using a blunt spatula washed with normal saline. The lenticule was held with lenticule forceps and gently inserted into the pocket through the 4 mm superior incision. Incision position changed according to the position of the highest K values We noticed during intervention that implantation of fresh lenticule depends from corneal thickness, for example if c.th.is 300-400 μm we implanted 1/2 stroma, if c.th.is 400 μm or more we implanted 1/3 stroma Example: if corneal thickness is 300 μm we implanted 150 μm (becoming 450 μm) we added more stroma due to more live keratocytes and stromal steam cells, aiming to overcome dead and non-functional keratocytes | Device | FRESH CORNEAL LENTICULE IMPLANTATION |
Primary outcome
Increase of corneal thickness
Time frame: 24 months
Increase of corneal central thickness using human fresh corneal lenticule with stromal stem cells and live keratocytes
Results and safety
This study is still under way. Results are not available in the source record yet.
Research links
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govLast updated by the sponsor 29 Jul 2026.
- Individual participant dataSharing planned: Undecided
Referral and contact
AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals. Contact the study team or a site listed below; they decide who can take part.
The record lists no contact. Use the official record to reach the sponsor.
1 site in 1 country: see every site and its status.
Questions about this trial
What is this clinical trial studying?
A study testing ReLex-smile in people with Progressive Disease of Corneae, run by Eye Hospital Pristina Kosovo at 1 site in Kosovo.
The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.
Who may be eligible to take part?
The sponsor lists 3 inclusion and 3 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.
Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?
The record says: enrolling by invitation, as of the sponsor's last update on 29 Jul 2026. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.
Where is the study taking place?
The record lists 1 site in Kosovo. Whether a site is taking part right now should be confirmed with that site. See every site.
What are the possible benefits and risks?
They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.
Are results available for this study?
This study is still under way. Results are not available in the source record yet.
How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?
The record lists no contact. The official record names the sponsor, who can be asked directly. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.
What does the primary outcome measure?
Increase of corneal thickness (time frame: 24 months). It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.
Where can I read the original study information?
Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?
No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.
How often is this information updated?
AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 29 Jul 2026.