AUTHOR=Sun Ling , Zhang Xiaoyu , Tian Mi , Shen Yang , Zhao Jing , Zhou Xingtao
TITLE=Topography-Guided Transepithelial Accelerated Corneal Collagen Cross-Linking for Low Refractive Error Correction in Keratoconus Treatment: A Pilot Study
JOURNAL=Frontiers in Bioengineering and Biotechnology
VOLUME=10
YEAR=2022
URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/bioengineering-and-biotechnology/articles/10.3389/fbioe.2022.830776
DOI=10.3389/fbioe.2022.830776
ISSN=2296-4185
ABSTRACT=Purpose: To investigate the safety and efficacy of topography-guided transepithelial accelerated corneal collagen cross-linking for low refractive error correction in patients with keratoconus.
Methods: This was a prospective self-controlled study. Eighteen patients (18 eyes) were enrolled and assessed at 6 visits (pre-operation, 1 w, 1 month, 3 months, 6 months, and 1 year postoperatively). The examination at every visit included analysis of uncorrected visual acuity (UCVA), best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA), corneal topography, and corneal endothelial cell counts. Data are expressed as mean ± standard deviation (SD). The p-value was determined using repeated-measures analysis of variance.
Results: No complications occurred in any eye during 1 year follow-up period. At each visit after the operation, the corneal K values and spherical equivalent (SE) were reduced, while the visual acuity values were increased compared with those preoperatively, although these results were not statistically significant (p > 0.05). UCVA of nearly 1/3 of the patients was enhanced by at least 3 lines at each follow-up visit. During the whole follow-up, corneal endothelial cell counts were stable (p > 0.05). Regarding topography, part of the corneal cone was flattened after the operation.
Conclusion: Topography-guided transepithelial-accelerated corneal collagen cross-linking is safe and may correct low refractive error in keratoconus treatment. Further studies and improvements are required in this regard.