First in Human Study to Assess Safety and Efficacy of an Implantable Nitinol Device in the Treatment of Keratoconus

This Study is a First In Human clinical investigation addressed to evaluate the safety and efficacy of a novel intra-corneal nitinol device (Investigational Medical Device: GROSSO® implant) for the treatment of advanced keratoconus disease of the eye.

The medical device under investigation is a sterile thin 8-mm diameter circular scaffold made of a nickel-titanium alloy (nitinol) that is intended as a permanent implant that is surgically inserted into the cornea in order to modify force by inducing a change in corneal shape and consequently improving vision. This study is aimed at adults with a stage 3- 4 keratoconus, a central K reading \> 47.2 D and RMS of coma aberration \> 2.5 μm, which are not recommended for Intrastromal Corneal Ring Segments (ICRS) and are recommended for keratoplasty. Therefore, this study represents a salvage route to preserve the cornea. Envisaged worst case scenario of failure of the experimental device patients would be redirected to keratoplasty. Study aims to treat 12 patients separated by a safety period of at least 14 days between each one allowing safety monitoring. For each patient, the following treatment strategy will be applied: * Unilateral KC: the affected eye meeting the eligibility criteria will be treated. * Bilateral KC, one eye meeting the eligibility criteria: the eligible eye will be treated. * Bilateral KC, both eyes meeting the eligibility criteria: the most severely compromised eye will be treated. Primary study objective is safety by identification or any local or systemic adverse events. Secondary objective will aim to evaluate efficacy that means a consequently improving of vision. Patients will be monitored at 1, 7, 21, 60, 180 and 365 days post implant surgery. Upon observance or any serious adverse event, increase in ocular pressure, device migration or discomfort, medical criteria or patient request, the patient will be offered for the device removed. The study will be early terminated if 3 patients have the experimental device removed for any reason or 4 patients withdraw from study.