Accelerated (45 mW/cm2) transepithelial corneal cross-linking for keratoconus patients: three year topographical and clinical outcomes

Session Details

Session Title: Presented Poster Session: Cross-Linking

Venue: Poster Village: Pod 2

First Author: : X.Zhang CHINA

Co Author(s): :                           

Abstract Details

Purpose:

To investigate the long-term clinical outcomes of accelerated (45 mW/cm2) transepithelial corneal cross-linking (ATE-CXL) for the treatment of keratoconus.

Setting:

Eye and ENT Hospital of Fudan University, Myopia Key Laboratory of the Health Ministry, Shanghai, China

Methods:

Twenty-three eyes (19 patients) treated for keratoconus were enrolled. The preoperative mean maximum keratometry (Kmax) value was 56.11 ± 8.25 diopters (D) and the thinnest corneal thickness (TCT) was 459.74 ± 43.14 μm. ATE-CXL was performed using riboflavin and ultraviolet treatment (45 mW/cm2, 7.2 J/cm2). Structural and functional measurements were performed at 1-day, 1-week, and 1-, 3-, 6-, 12-, 24-, and 36-months postoperatively.

Results:

Surgery was uneventful in all eyes. Mean uncorrected (UDVA) and corrected distance visual acuity (CDVA) (logMAR) were 0.82 ± 0.45 and 0.82 ± 0.45, 0.41 ± 0.44 (P = 0.021) and 0.26 ± 0.39 (P = 0.021), at baseline and 3 years, respectively. Mean Kmax were 54.65 ± 8.53 at 3-years postoperatively (P = 0.578). TCT changed to 455.65 ± 45.48 by 3-years postoperatively (P = 0.232). Corneal parameters, including topography value, ECD, and ORA readings were stable at 3-years postoperatively. No complications were observed during follow-up.

Conclusions:

Our study demonstrated that ATE-CXL (with irradiance of 45 mW/cm2, 7.2 J/cm2) is effective and safe for the treatment of progressive keratoconus, based on a 3-year follow-up period, yielding increased comfort and reduced complications for keratoconus patients. In future, different UVA irradiance CXL protocols and longer follow-up duration should be investigated.

Financial Disclosure:

None