Abstract
Purpose :
To study changes in corneal pachymetry after transepithelial corneal collagen crosslinking (CXL) for keratoconus and to analyze the progression of CXL-associated corneal haze over the course of 12 months.
Methods :
Eighty eyes of fifty-five patients with keratoconus were studied for changes in corneal pachymetry after transepithelial CXL, while fifty-nine eyes of forty-three patients were analyzed for CXL-associated corneal haze. Pachymetry was measured using ultrasound preoperatively and with a rotating Scheimpflug camera at follow-up visits. Scheimpflug imagery taken preoperatively and at follow-up visits were used to determine corneal densitometry, which objectively measures corneal haze. Pachymetry and CXL-associated corneal haze were compared to corrected and uncorrected distance visual acuity. Patients returned for follow-up visits 1-, 3-, 6-, and 12-months after the procedure.
Results :
The pachymetry of corneas with keratoconus did not change significantly between the transepithelial CXL procedure and 12 months postoperatively (P=0.9). Corneal densitometry increased 1 month after the procedure (P<0.001), then decreased between 3 and 6 months (P=0.002), as well as between 6 and 12 months (P=0.002) postoperatively. Compared to preoperative corneas, the corneal densitometry returned to baseline 12 months after the procedure (P=0.2). Pachymetry had significant correlations with corrected (P=0.001) and uncorrected distance visual acuity (P=0.03). Corneal haze did not have significant correlations with maximum keratometry, corrected distance visual acuity, or uncorrected distance visual acuity.
Conclusions :
Transepithelial CXL was able to stabilize corneas with keratoconus and prevent the corneal pachymetry from changing. CXL-associated corneal haze from transepithelial CXL was most severe 1 month after the procedure, but returned to baseline 12 months postoperatively.
This abstract was presented at the 2019 ARVO Annual Meeting, held in Vancouver, Canada, April 28 - May 2, 2019.