Abstract
Purpose: :
To evaluate efficacy and safety of high intensity Corneal Collagen Cross-Linking (CXL) with optimized beam profile for treatment of progressing keratokonus. A new generation of CXL devices enables a shorter UVA irradiation time (10 min instead of 30 min) due to a higher intensity of irradiation (9 mW/cm2 instead of 3 mW/cm2). The CXL System "UV-X 2000" (Company IROC AG, Switzerland) has a beam optimized system with improved homogeneity and variability of irradiation parameters.
Methods: :
38 eyes of 35 Patients (mean age 26.6 ± 9.7 years) with progressing keratokonus were treated with the UV-X 2000. BCVA and corneal topography (Kmin, Kmax, Kapex) were examined preoperatively and postoperatively in a follow-up period up to 1 year.
Results: :
BCVA remained stable or even improved in all cases (logMAR 0.385 vs 0.371). Preoperative Kmin was not statistically significant different to postoperative values (mean 47.30 D vs 47.47 D), the values of Kmax also remained stable (mean 51.70 D vs 51.37 D). The postoperative Kapex was significantly lower compared to the preoperative values (pre 60.85 D vs post 58.46 D; P = 0.001). Neither endothelial cell loss nor other side effects were recorded.
Conclusions: :
The new high intensity CXL treatment with optimized beam profile seems to be as safe and as effective as the Standard CXL treatment protocol. The most important advantages are the reduced time and the improved homogeneity of UVA irradiation.