Posters

Effect of the bio protectant agent trehalose on corneal epithelial healing after corneal cross-linking for keratoconus

Poster Details

First Author: E.Karaca TURKEY

Co Author(s):    D. Ozek   O. Evren Kemer                 

Abstract Details

Purpose:

The purpose of this study is to compare efficiency of sodium hyaluronate (SH) to trehalose and sodium hyaluronate combination (TH-SH) eye drops for treatment of corneal cross-linking (CXL) patients' epithelial healing.

Setting:

Health Sciences University, Ankara Numune Training and Research Hospital

Methods:

This study includes 46 eyes of 23 keratoconus patients, who were CXL operated on both eyes. Unpreserved trehalose 30 mg/mL and sodium hyaluronate 1.5 mg/mL (Thealoz Duo®;Thea, France) was applied six times a day on one eye of each patient, whereas unpreserved sodium hyaluronate, 0.15% (Eye still®; Teka, Inc., Istanbul) was applied on the other eye. Patients were examined daily until complete re-epithelialization. Postoperative examinations included slit-lamp biomicroscopy to assess the epithelial defect size measured.

Results:

Mean age of 13 female and 10 male patients was 20.9±10.3. Corneal epithelial healing after cross-linking was 2.3±1.2 and 3.8±2.9 days for TH-SH group and SH group respectively (p=0.03).

Conclusions:

Trehalose and sodium hyaluronate combination drop instillation was observed to result in faster corneal re-epithelialization after CXL compared to SH drop alone in this study.

Financial Disclosure:

None