Posters

A novel epithelial flap technique for corneal cross-linking

Poster Details

First Author: K.Iselin SWITZERLAND

Co Author(s):    D. Borroni   N. Menassa   G. Coco   S. Kaye   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, United Kingdom

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 7.28±1.487 (range 6.67-7.89) in the epi-flap and 8.32±1.345 (range 7.76-8.88) in the epi-off group respectively (p=0.009). Three months postoperative, an increase in total densitometric values of 1.04±1.33 (epi-flap) and 0.276±1.37 (epi-off) were documented (p=0.008). Mean maximum keratometry (Kmax) regressed in both groups by 0.94±0.96D (epi-flap) and 0.53±0.75D (epi-off) respectively (p=0.153). The thinnest corneal pachymetry decreased by 10±12.85um in the epi-flap and 0.736±1.63um in the epi-off group (p < 0.001). 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