Posters

A novel epithelial flap technique for corneal cross-linking

Poster Details

First Author: D.Borroni UK

Co Author(s): C. Rocha de Lossada   K. Iselin   N. Menassa   V. Romano           

Abstract Details

Purpose:

To describe a novel corneal cross-linking technique by creating an epithelial flap (epi-flap CXL) and to compare the postoperative pain and haze outcomes to standard epi-off cross-linking (epi-off CXL).

Setting:

Department of Ophthalmology, St. Paul’s Eye Unit, Royal Liverpool University Hospital, Liverpool, UK

Methods:

Fifty eyes of twenty-five patients who had bilateral CXL for progressive keratoconus were included. One eye was treated with epi-off CXL technique (control group) and the other eye with epi-flap CXL technique (experimental group). Verbal Rating Scale (VRS) and epithelial healing were recorded 2 days postop. At baseline and 3 months follow up corneal densitometry, keratometry were recorded using Pentacam. Intraoperative and postoperative complications were recorded.

Results:

Two days after surgery, postoperative pain levels were 5.28± 2.1 in the epi-flap and 8.32±1.3 in the epi-off group respectively (p=0.003). Mean maximum keratometry (Kmax) regressed in both groups by 1.11±0.8D (epi-flap) and 1.42±0.55D (epi-off) respectively (p=0.21). The thinnest corneal pachymetry decreased by 18±11.73um in the epi-flap and 12±4.63um in the epi-off group (p < 0.002). No postoperative complications were recorded.

Conclusions:

Compared to the standard epi-off CXL, the epi-flap CXL were associated with less postoperative pain, faster healing process and higher postoperative densitometry values.

Financial Disclosure:

None