Posters

Transepithelial iontophoresis collagen cross-linking vs standard-CXL: one year clinical results of a prospective clinical study

Poster Details

First Author: E. Legrottaglie ITALY

Co Author(s):    R. Vinciguerra   V. Romano   P. Rosetta   R. Piscopo   C. Azzolini   P. Vinciguerra     

Abstract Details

Purpose:

To compare one year transepithelial corneal collagen cross-linking with Iontophoresis (I-CXL) outcomes with standard-CXL (S-CXL) epithelium-off for progressive keratoconus.

Setting:

Humanitas Clinical and Research Center, Via Manzoni 56, Rozzano (MI), Italy

Methods:

Forty eyes of forty patients with progressive keratoconus were included in this comparative prospective clinical study. Best spectacle corrected visual acuity (BSCVA), spherical equivalent, cylinder refraction, corneal topography, Scheimpflug tomography, aberrometry and endothelial cell count were assessed at baseline and at 1, 3, 6 and 12 months of follow up. The parameters considered to establish keratoconus progression were always proved with differential maps as change in curvature in the cone area of at least 1 diopters obtained with an instantaneous map.

Results:

Functional parameters (visual acuity and aberrometry) showed a significant improvement (p<0.05) after 6 and 12 months of follow up in both groups. In the I-CXL group the BSCVA showed a rapid recovery of the vision already after 3 months(p=0.01). Morphological parameters showed a significant reduction of Kmax in S-CXL group by -1.05 ± 1.51D after 12 months, while I-CXL group curvature was stable (-0.31 ± 1.87D). Minimum pachymetry values were stable even after 12 months of follow up in I-CXL group, while in the S-CXL group we recorded a significant corneal thinning the 12 months following treatment(p<0.001). None of the patients had continuous progression of keratoconus or had to repeat crosslinking procedures. Endothelial cell counts did not changed significantly (p>0.05).

Conclusions:

The one-year outcomes indicate that the I-CXL is comparable to S-CXL, stabilizing the progression of the degenerative ectatic disease. Additionally quicker improvement of functional parameters was reported in I-CXL group.

Financial Disclosure:

NONE