Posters

Application of corneal cross-linking in recurrent keratoconus after keratoplasty

Poster Details

First Author: G.Caldarella ITALY

Co Author(s):    E. Pedrotti   A. Fasolo   E. Bonacci   N. Gennaro   G. Marchini        

Abstract Details

Purpose:

To evaluate the effectiveness of the cross-linking (CXL) in patients diagnosed with Recurrent Keratoconus (RKC) and transparent graft.

Setting:

Eye Clinic of the University of Verona.

Methods:

We included 18 eyes with previous corneal graft for keratoconus diagnosed with RKC following topography examination showing increase of Kmax of at least 1D in the last year, visual acuity instability and secondary astigmatism. Exclusion criteria were history of ocular surface inflammation, leucoma, graft neovascularization, systemic chronic diseases, allergies. We performed  accelerated CXL epi-off technique, then evaluated patients after 4 and 8 days,then after 1, 2, 3, 6 months by slit lamp biomicroscopy, corneal pachimetry and topography and best corrected visual acuity (BCVA). Kmax, thinnest corneal thickness, topographic astigmatism, manifest refraction spherical equivalent, and BCVA were the study outcome measures.

Results:

Compared to baseline, differences in Kmax and TCT after 1 year were statistically significant (p = 0.0001); BVCA increased in 13 eyes while remained stable in 4 eyes; MRSE decreased in 13 eyes, increased in 3 eyes and remained stable in 1 eye; topographic astigmatism decreased in 9 eyes, remained stable in 1 eye and increased in 7 eyes. In one eye, the diastasis of the donor button over 360° occurred two days after CXL.

Conclusions:

CXL stabilizes Kmax after 1 year and is a viable alternative to regraft or other surgery in patients with RKC.

Financial Disclosure:

... receives non-monetary benefits from a competing company