Posters

Comparison of corneal density changes after accelerated corneal collagen cross-linking in keratoconus: continuous vs pulsed light treatment

Poster Details

First Author: E. Toker TURKEY

Co Author(s):    S. Akkaya Turhan   D. Ozarslan Ozcan                 

Abstract Details

Purpose:

To compare density changes in the cornea following two different protocols of accelerated (A-CXL) collagen cross-linking in patients with progressive keratoconus.

Setting:

Department of Ophthalmology, Marmara University Medical School, Istanbul, Turkey

Methods:

Patients with progressive keratoconus were assigned to 1 of 2 treatment protocols using the same irradiation device for A-CXL. Patients assigned to Group A (27 eyes) received A-CXL using continuous UVA light exposure at 30 mW/cm2 with a total energy dose 7.2 J/cm2 for 4 minutes and Group B (26 eyes) received A-CXL using pulsed UVA light with 8 minutes (1 second on/1 second off) of UVA exposure at 30 mW/cm2 with a total energy dose 7.2 J/cm2 Corneal density was measured with Scheimpflug topography (Pentacam) at 1, 3, 6, and 12 month follow-up.

Results:

Compared to preoperative values, the mean corneal densities were significantly higher in Group A than Group B at 1 month (p=0.024), whereas there were no statistically significant differences in corneal density between groups during follow-up exams (p>0.05). Densitometry peaked at 1 month (mean: 20.71 ± 2.72, p<0.0001, Group A; mean: 19.55 ± 2.90, p<0.0001, Group B) in both groups and it decreased over time in Group B. However, in Group A, no significant change was observed after 6 months (p>0.05). Densitometry did not completely return to baseline after 12 months in both groups.

Conclusions:

Pulsed light treatment induces less corneal haze compared to continuous light treatment at 1 month. Corneal density progressively decreases over 12 months after pulsed treatment whereas it plateaues at 6 months after continuous treatment.

Financial Disclosure:

NONE