In-vivo confocal microscopy during accelerated corneal cross-linking for keratoconus: study at time zero

Session Details

Session Title: Cross-Linking

Session Date/Time: Sunday 11/09/2016 | 08:00-09:30

Paper Time: 08:58

Venue: Auditorium A

First Author: : E.Pedrotti ITALY

Co Author(s): :    M. Passilongo   A. Fasolo   E. Bruni   S. Ficial   P. Di Sarro   G. Marchini     

Abstract Details

Purpose:

To analyze the modifications of the corneal stroma during the stages of the accelerated cross-linking with riboflavin (ACXL).

Setting:

Eye Clinic, University of Verona, Italy

Methods:

7 eyes of 7 patient with keratoconus underwent to ACXL. In vivo confocal microscopy (IVCM), corneal pachimetry and corneal topography evaluations were performed before treatment, at 1 week, and at 1 month. We also evaluated corneal stroma by IVCM after disepithelialization, riboflavin corneal imbibition, and immediately after corneal UV irradiation.

Results:

We observed that the extent of keratinocyte death following corneal disepithelialization is not further affected by riboflavin. Moreover, we found that immediately after UV irradiation, the keratinocyte death arrived at 100 microns depth in corneal stroma, while it was 300 microns at 1 week observation. The IVCM evaluation at 1 week showed deep stromal striae formation near the Descemet’s membrane in advanced keratoconus, which was not detected before treatment.

Conclusions:

ACXL affects corneal keratinocytes viability, and this phenomenon is minimally detectable during and immediately after the treatment, while it requires a few days to show completely. Keratinocites mortality seems to depend on the stage of keratoconus.

Financial Disclosure:

NONE