Epithelial Photorefractive Keratectomy and Corneal Cross-linking for Keratoconus: The Tel-Aviv Protocol.

PURPOSE: To present the Tel-Aviv Protocol for patients with progressive keratoconus, which consists of epithelial photorefractive keratectomy (ePRK), and corneal cross-linking (CXL).

METHODS

This was a retrospective case series of 20 consecutive patients diagnosed as having progressive keratoconus at Care-Vision Laser Centers, Tel Aviv, Israel. The Tel-Aviv Protocol included laser epithelial ablation using the EX500 excimer laser (Alcon Laboratories, Inc., Fort Worth, TX) with 50% of the manifest refractive astigmatism (on the same axis) while the spherical ablation is added so as not to exceed a total of 50-µm ablation of the epithelium and anterior stroma. Afterward, all patients underwent CXL. Data collected included thinnest corneal thickness (TCT), subjective astigmatism, mean keratometric power, maximum keratometric power (Kmax), uncorrected distance visual acuity (UDVA), and corrected distance visual acuity (CDVA).

RESULTS

A total of 20 eyes of 20 patients with a mean age of 28.0 ± 6.5 years (range: 13 to 40 years) and a mean follow-up of 823 ± 337 days (range: 266 to 1,749 days) were included. There was a significant improvement in both UDVA (from 0.95 ± 0.73 to 0.22 ± 0.15 logMAR, P < .001) and CDVA (from 0.24 ± 0.13 to 0.13 ± 0.12 logMAR, P < .001) at the end of the follow-up period. There was a significant improvement in mean keratometry (from 46.86 ± 2.48 to 45.00 ± 2.27 diopters [D], P < .001), Kmax (from 48.18 ± 2.74 to 45.97 ± 2.55 D, P < .001), and Kmin (from 45.54 ± 2.35 to 44.03 ± 2.12 D, P < .001). TCT was significantly lower following the procedure (from 450.90 ± 35.99 to 404.90 ± 43.96 µm, P < .001). No complications and no progression in keratoconus severity were noticed during the follow-up period.

CONCLUSIONS

The Tel-Aviv Protocol for patients with progressive keratoconus provides good improvement in visual acuity and astigmatism while halting the progression of keratoconus. [J Refract Surg. 2019;35(6):377-382.].