Free Papers

Local corneal cross-linking: a multicenter study

Free Paper Details

First Author: S.Anisimov RUSSIA

Co Author(s):    K. Pershin   A. Tzigankov   E. Branchevskaya   O. Belikova   A. Zemskaya   N. Anisimova     

Abstract Details

Purpose:

To compare the effectiveness of classical and local corneal cross-linking

Setting:

Eye Center Vostok-Prozrenie (Moscow), Clinic "Excimer" (Moscow), Clinic of Dr. Belikova (Moscow), Clinic of Dr. Branchevsky (Samara)

Methods:

123 patients (226 eyes) was treated by corneal crocclinking with a diagnosis of keratoconus I-III art. (age from 18 to 45 years, of which 34 were women and 89 men). Local crosslinking was used in 142 eyes. Classical crosslinking in 84 eyes. All study participants used the same device for phototherapy (corneal crosslinking) manufactured by Transcontact Ltd.(Moscow). For local CXL an annular segment with an inner diameter of 5.0 mm and an outer diameter of 7.0 mm was used. Both groups were done with epi-off and with parameters of: 3mW / cm² for 30 minutes.The follow-up period was 1 year.

Results:

Comparison of K max. showed the great effectiveness of the standard method in reducing this indicator from 51.0 ± 6.0 diopters to 48.0 ± 5.5 diopters. With local cross-linking, a decrease in K max. From 51.3 ± 6.1 to 49.0 ± 5.6 was registered. However, the differences were not statistically significant (p˃0.05). At local cross-linking, uncorrected visual acuity increased more from 0.33 to 0.64, with standard cross-linking from 0.25 to 0.35. The maximum corrected visual acuity at local cross-linking increased from 0.38 to 0.75 more than with standard (from 0.31 to 0.61) (p ˂ 0.05).

Conclusions:

Local cross-linking is more effective for increasing visual acuity in the treatment of keratoconus. That may be connected to the minimally invasive irradiation zone and sparse epithelial debridement, as the epithelium is off only in the zones corresponding to the ring-shape pattern of the irradiation mask.

Financial Disclosure:

... is employed by a for-profit company with an interest in the subject of the presentation