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Phase 3 Completed N=2,410 Randomized Triple-blind Treatment

FLuorometholone as Adjunctive MEdical Therapy for TT Surgery (FLAME) Trial

Trachomatous Trichiasis (TT) · Eye Diseases · Eyelid Diseases · Trachomatous
Source: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT04149210 ↗
Enrolled (actual)
2,410
Serious AEs
7.1%
Results posted
Mar 2026
Primary outcomePrimary: Incidence of Postoperative TT by One Year, as Determined by Trained Study Team Members — 218; 213; 32; 36 Study eyes — p=0.97
◆ Published Evidence
Emerging
2citations · ~1 / year
The FLuorometholone as Adjunctive MEdical Therapy for Trachomatous Trichiasis Surgery (FLAME) Trial: Study Design.
Ophthalmic epidemiology · 2024 · Likely link

Summary

This study aims : * To assess the efficacy of fluorometholone 0.1% one drop twice daily for four weeks in reducing the incidence of post-operative trachomatous trichiasis (TT) when given as adjunctive therapy with TT surgery in the programmatic setting * To assess whether such treatment is sufficiently safe for wide-scale implementation in TT programs. * To estimate the costs of adding fluorometholone 0.1% treatment to TT surgery per case of postoperative TT averted, and to characterize the value of such treatment under a range of plausible health economic circumstances

Linked Publications (4)

  • The FLuorometholone as Adjunctive MEdical Therapy for Trachomatous Trichiasis Surgery (FLAME) Trial: Study Design.
    Ophthalmic epidemiology · 2024 · 2 citations · Likely link
  • Outcomes of posterior lamellar tarsal rotation vs bilamellar tarsal rotation for trachomatous trichiasis.
    PLoS neglected tropical diseases · 2025 · 1 citation · Open access · Likely link
  • Evaluation of fluorometholone as adjunctive medical therapy for trachomatous trichiasis surgery (FLAME): a parallel, double-blind, randomised controlled field trial in the Jimma Zone, Ethiopia.
    The Lancet. Global health · 2026 · 0 citations · Open access · Likely link
  • The FLuorometholone as Adjunctive MEdical Therapy for Trachomatous Trichiasis Surgery (FLAME) Trial: Study Design.
    medRxiv : the preprint server for health sciences · 2024 · 0 citations · Open access · Likely link

Outcome Measures

OutcomeResultp-value
PRIMARY
Incidence of Postoperative TT by One Year, as Determined by Trained Study Team Members
218; 213; 32; 36; 137; 136 0.97
SECONDARY
Efficacy Measure 1 - Entropion
208; 234 0.13
SECONDARY
Efficacy Measure 2 - Reoperation
1; 3 0.37
SECONDARY
Efficacy Measure 3 - Lashes
0.16; 0.13; 0.22; 0.21 0.75
SECONDARY
Efficacy Measure 4 - Health Economic Analysis
0; 55556
SECONDARY
Safety/Adverse Outcomes 1 - Corneal Opacity
1068; 1064; 532; 503 0.53
SECONDARY
Safety/Adverse Outcomes 2 - Overcorrection
1587; 1558; 13; 9 0.44
SECONDARY
Safety/Adverse Outcomes 3 - Eyelid Abnormalities
1542; 1525; 58; 42 0.17
SECONDARY
Safety/Adverse Outcome 4 - Lid Closure Defect
1598; 1567; 2; 0 0.50
SECONDARY
Safety/Adverse Outcomes 5 - Granuloma
1595; 1564; 5; 3 0.73
SECONDARY
Safety/Adverse Outcomes 6 - Pain Level
5.35; 5.32 0.63
SECONDARY
Safety/Adverse Outcomes 7 - IOP in mmHg
1612; 1577; 5; 7 0.58
SECONDARY
Safety/Adverse Outcomes 8 - Cataract Surgery
1618; 1590; 7; 3 0.34
SECONDARY
Safety/Adverse Outcomes 9 - TT in Non-study Eye
406; 431; 107; 119 0.76
SECONDARY
Safety/Adverse Outcomes 10 - Adverse Events
1195; 1197; 9; 4; 2; 3 0.27
SECONDARY
Patient-reported Outcomes 1 - Patient Satisfaction
1461; 1468; 128; 93; 5; 4 0.04 sig
SECONDARY
Patient-reported Outcomes 2 - Cosmetic Outcome
1458; 1457; 136; 105; 3; 4 0.12
SECONDARY
Patient-reported Outcomes 3 - Health Utility
6.3; 6.3; 80.2; 79.6 0.96
SECONDARY
Additional Variables 1 - Visual Acuity
0.48; 0.48; -0.02; -0.03 0.78

Eligibility Criteria

Inclusion Criteria

  • Age 15 years or more, corresponding to the age of patients treated in the Fred Hollows Foundation/Federal Ministry of Health Program at field sites without general anesthesia.
  • One or both eyes with upper lid trachomatous trichiasis-with one or more eyelashes touching the eye or evidence of epilation, with a plan to undergo TT surgery on at least one upper eyelid.
  • Collection of all baseline data prior to randomization
  • Signed, informed consent (and assent, when applicable)

Exclusion Criteria

  • Contraindication(s) to the use of the test articles, including a known allergy or sensitivity to the study medication (fluorometholone) or its components, and contraindication(s) to use of azithromycin
  • IOP≥22 mmHg and/or currently taking more than two ocular anti-hypertensive medications in the study eye (prior IOP-lowering surgery is acceptable; combinations of two IOP-lowering agents such as Dorzamol are considered two medications)
  • A known severe / serious ocular pathology or medical condition which may preclude study completion or increase the risk of harm in the study (e.g., suspicion of non-trachomatous active ocular infection or suspicion of glaucoma of a degree to which where an intraocular pressure spike would be vision-threatening).
  • Any condition known to be present at baseline for which it is anticipated ocular or systemic corticosteroid therapy will be required.
  • Any significant illness or condition (e.g., hypertension with systolic blood pressure≥170 mmHg and/or diastolic blood pressure≥110 mmHg) that could, in the study team's opinion, be expected to interfere with the study parameters or study conduct; or put the subject at significant risk.
  • Previous upper lid TT surgery on all eyes with upper lid TT. (If one eye has previously undergone upper lid TT surgery but another eye with upper lid TT has not, the patient may be enrolled, and only the latter eye will be counted for the primary analyses).
View full record on ClinicalTrials.gov →

Data sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT04149210) and the linked publication. Outcome figures and adverse-event rates are extracted automatically from the registry's posted results and are provided for clinician reference, not as a substitute for the primary publication. Informational only — not medical advice.

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