Posters

Effects of corneal collagen cross-linking on confocal microscopic findings and tear

Poster Details

First Author: M.Zare IRAN

Co Author(s):                  

Abstract Details

Purpose:

to evaluate any change in tear indices and confocal microscopic findings after corneal collagen crosslinking (CXL) in patients with progressive keratoconus

Setting:

Farabi Eye Hospital Tehran University of medical sciences

Methods:

thirty two consecutive eyes from 23 patients having progressive keratoconus were enrolled. The standard crosslinking surgery was performed for all patients. Visual, refractive and topographic evaluations were done before and at 6 months after surgery. Tear function tests and confocal microscopic examination were performed before and at 1 month and 6 months after the procedure

Results:

there was no significant change in schirmer-1 test results and tear osmolarity at 1 month and 6 months after CXL. Using confocal microscopy, all eyes showed reduced or absent subepithelial nerve plexus. Differences in basal epithelial cell density, epithelial mean cell area and keratocyte density in anterior and middle stroma and endothelial cell pleomorphism were all significant at 1 month and 6 months after CXL (P<0.05). No significant change was noted in endothelial cell count and their polymegathism at 6 months follow up. Significant improvement was noted in uncorrected visual acuity (UCVA), Best corrected visual acuity (BCVA), flattest corneal meridian (K2) and maximum keratometry in pentacam (Kmax) after 6 months of procedure.

Conclusions:

While CXL would have no effect on tear indices and endothelial cell count, it can cause significant reduction in subepithelial nerve plexus and significant alterations in epithelial cell density in anterior and middle stroma. FINANCIAL INTEREST: NONE