Corneal Cross-Linking In Recurrent Keratoconus: Long Term Results

Published 2022 - 40th Congress of the ESCRS

Reference: PO263 | Type: Free paper | DOI: 10.82333/8zxx-r845

Authors: MARIACARMELA VENTURA* ¹ , EMILIO PEDROTTI ² , ERIKA BONACCI ² , SEBASTIANO FRACCAROLI ² , GIORGIO MARCHINI ²

¹Ophthalmic Unit, Department of Neurosciences, Biomedicine and Movement Sciences,University of Verona,Verona,Italy, ²Ophthalmic Unit, Department of Neurosciences, Biomedicine and Movement Sciences,university hospital of Verona,Verona,Italy

Purpose

To evaluate the long term effectiveness of corneal cross-linking (CXL) in patients with recurrent keratoconus (RKC) after keratoplasty.

Setting

The study was carried out at the Ophthalmic Unit of the University Hospital of Verona, Italy.

Methods

In this study, we enrolled patients with a history of penetrating or deep anterior lamellar keratoplasty performed for keratoconus who experienced keratoconus-recurrence. Long term (4 years) topographic (Galilei G4, Ziemer Ophtalmic Systems, Port, CH; CSO Vision Chart, CSO; Osiris-T CSO Italy), biomechanical ( Corvis ST, Oculus Optikgeräte GmbH, Wetzlar, GE) and visual (Snellen chart) changes were assessed in 14 patients (16 eyes) treated with accelerated-epi-off-CXL .

Results

At 4 years, biomechanical parameters (deformation amplitude ratio, inverse concave radius, applanation 1 length, applanation 2 length, highest concavity peak distance) did not significantly differ compared to baseline (p>0.05). Even though the difference in topographic maximum keratometry, pachymetric thinnest corneal thickness and topographic astigmatism were statistically significant (p<0.05), best corrected visual acuity and refraction were found stable and no further treatment was needed.

Conclusions

Although changing in topographic parameters, the accelerated-epi-off-CXL demonstrated to be effective in long term corneal biomechanical stabilization and refraction, proving to be able to delay or obviate new keratoplasties.