PURPOSE: To report the corneal thinning during and after corneal cross-linking (CXL). DESIGN: Prospective, nonrandomized, single-center observational study. METHODS: Thirty patients (30 eyes; 9 female, 21 male; age, 38 ± 12 years) were consecutively scheduled for CXL between January 23 and July 6, 2009. Twenty-four eyes had progressive keratoconus, 2 had pellucid marginal degeneration, 3 eyes had progressive keratectasia after a LASIK operation, and 1 eye had pseudophakic bullous keratopathy. Riboflavin-ultraviolet A (UVA)-induced CXL included the instillation of 0.1% riboflavin drops for 30 minutes followed by riboflavin instillation combined with UVA irradiation for another 30 minutes. Corneal thickness was measured preoperatively, during CXL, and after 1 and 6 months using an ultrasound pachymeter. Changes in the endothelial cell count, corneal steepness, refraction, and visual performance are also given. RESULTS: On average, the corneas thinned 87 ± 40 μm (range, 37-206 μm; 19% ± 7%) during a 60-minute CXL treatment. In 1 patient, the cornea did not swell, even with hypotonic solution such that CXL would be safe. After 1 month, the corneal thickness was lower than the preoperative thickness, but after 6 months, the corneas had regained their original thicknesses. The endothelial cell count and corneal steepness were unchanged after CXL. The UCVA (uncorrected visual acuity) and BSCVA (best spectacle-corrected visual acuity) were improved 6 months after CXL. CONCLUSIONS: Corneal thickness decreases significantly during CXL, even to a level where the health of the endothelium and cornea is jeopardized. Visual performance is improved 6 months after CXL.
PURPOSE: To report the corneal thinning during and after corneal cross-linking (CXL). DESIGN: Prospective, nonrandomized, single-center observational study. METHODS: Thirty patients (30 eyes; 9 female, 21 male; age, 38 ± 12 years) were consecutively scheduled for CXL between January 23 and July 6, 2009. Twenty-four eyes had progressive keratoconus, 2 had pellucid marginal degeneration, 3 eyes had progressive keratectasia after a LASIK operation, and 1 eye had pseudophakic bullous keratopathy. Riboflavin-ultraviolet A (UVA)-induced CXL included the instillation of 0.1% riboflavin drops for 30 minutes followed by riboflavin instillation combined with UVA irradiation for another 30 minutes. Corneal thickness was measured preoperatively, during CXL, and after 1 and 6 months using an ultrasound pachymeter. Changes in the endothelial cell count, corneal steepness, refraction, and visual performance are also given. RESULTS: On average, the corneas thinned 87 ± 40 μm (range, 37-206 μm; 19% ± 7%) during a 60-minute CXL treatment. In 1 patient, the cornea did not swell, even with hypotonic solution such that CXL would be safe. After 1 month, the corneal thickness was lower than the preoperative thickness, but after 6 months, the corneas had regained their original thicknesses. The endothelial cell count and corneal steepness were unchanged after CXL. The UCVA (uncorrected visual acuity) and BSCVA (best spectacle-corrected visual acuity) were improved 6 months after CXL. CONCLUSIONS: Corneal thickness decreases significantly during CXL, even to a level where the health of the endothelium and cornea is jeopardized. Visual performance is improved 6 months after CXL.
Authors: Hasan Razmjoo; Seyed Mohammad Ghoreishi; Zahra Mohammadi; Hasan Salam; Kobra Nasrollahi; Alireza Peyman Journal: Adv Biomed Res Date: 2015-02-17
Authors: Xiaokun Wang; Yong Huang; Sabah Jastaneiah; Shoumyo Majumdar; Jin U Kang; Samuel C Yiu; Walter Stark; Jennifer H Elisseeff Journal: PLoS One Date: 2015-09-01 Impact factor: 3.240