Posters

Comparison of pulsed vs continuous light-accelerated corneal collagen cross-linking

Poster Details

First Author: O. Olcucu TURKEY

Co Author(s):    Y. Yildirim   B. Yildiz                 

Abstract Details

Purpose:

To evaluate the effect of pulsed light ultraviolet A (UV-A) in the accelerated corneal collagen crosslinking (A-CXL) used as a treatment option in patients with progressive keratoconus.

Setting:

Refractive Department of Beyoglu Eye Training and Research Hospital, Istanbul, Turkey

Methods:

Sixty eyes which comprised 30 eyes treated with continuous light A-CXL (Group-1) and 30 eyes treated with pulsed light A-CXL (Group-2) of 60 patients were randomly selected and enrolled in this study. All patients underwent an epithelium-off A-CXL used UV-A exposure at 18mW/cm2 with an energy dose of 5.4 J/cm2. The eyes in Group 1 exposed continuously UV-A for 5 minutes, whereas the eyes in Group 2 exposed UV-A for 10 minutes with pulsed modality (1/1 second on/off). Visual acuities, corneal topographies and demarcation lines of the patients were assessed preoperatively and at 1, 3, 6, and 12 months postoperatively.

Results:

There was not statistically significant difference between the groups in terms of preoperative and postoperative assessments of visual acuities, keratometric readings. According to baseline, central corneal thickness decreased significantly at postoperative first month in both groups (p < 0.01) but did not significantly differ at postoperative 1 year. A mean depth of the demarcation lines were recorded at 210.44 ± 14.62 µm in Group 1 and at 224.73 ± 16.65 µm in Group 2 ( p < 0.01). Corneal haze in 5 eyes (%8.3), delayed epithelial healing in 2 eyes and peripheral sterile infiltrates in one eye were seen in follow –ups.

Conclusions:

Pulse mode UV-A exposure demonstrated similar visual results and safety profile with continuous UV-A exposure in the A-CXL used for halting keratoconus progression.

Financial Disclosure:

NONE