Posters

Clinical experience with a novel UV-A irradiation system for cross-linking treatment in keratoconus

Poster Details

First Author: B.Daxer AUSTRIA

Co Author(s):    T. Budic   C. Tomschi   A. Ettl              

Abstract Details

Purpose:

Development of corneal crosslinking was an important step to avoid progression of keratoconus toward corneal blindness. The currently available technologies suffer from deficiencies with respect to an optimal corneal irradiation. These deficiencies include partially unpredictable energy transfer to the cornea for the following reasons: eye movement, often inaccurate and variable distance between corneal surface and irradiation source, inter- and intra-individual variation of corneal steepness in keratoconus. Therefore even after crosslinking a significant number of cases require re-treatment. In this study we present initial clinical experience with a novel technology for UV-A-irradiation for crosslinking treatment which avoids these deficiencies.

Setting:

Department of Ophthalmology, University hospital St. Pölten

Methods:

We have treated 10 keratoconic eyes suffering from mild to moderate keratoconus by means of KERALUX disposable CXL (DIOPTEX GmbH, Austria). KERALUX is equipped with an irradiation channel lined out by a diffusely reflecting foil which is mounted on the eye via a sterile patient interface. The reflecting irradiation channel replaces the free irradiation path known from conventional crosslinking systems.  The total energy was 5.4J/cm2 with an intensity of 9mW/cm2 and 10 minutes irradiation time. The procedure was performed as Epi-Off procedure. Follow-ups were up to 1 year.

Results:

No complications occurred during or after the treatment. Epithelial wound closure was finished after 3 days. Best corrected visual acuity (CDVA) returned to the value before treatment within 3 month in all cases. No eye lost one or more lines or gained one or more lines in CDVA after 3 month.

Conclusions:

Our data suggest that corneal cross linking by means of KERALUX disposable CXL is safe and effective. Long-term studies are required to evaluate whether this novel technology will result in less re-treatments for keratoconus progression after initial crosslinking compared to conventional irradiation technologies.

Financial Disclosure:

None