Safety of high-intensity corneal collagen crosslinking.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the safety of a new high-intensity corneal collagen crosslinking (CXL) treatment protocol for keratoconus.

SETTING

Vardinoyiannion Eye Institute of Crete, Faculty of Medicine, University of Crete, Heraklion, Crete, Greece.

DESIGN

Prospective interventional case series.

METHODS

Patients with progressive keratoconus had CXL using a new treatment protocol with 9 mW/cm(2) irradiance for duration of 10 minutes. The rate of reepithelialization, endothelial cell density (ECD), corrected distance visual acuity (CDVA), and steep and flat keratometry (K) values were evaluated preoperatively and 3 months postoperatively.

RESULTS

Nine patients (10 eyes) were enrolled. No intraoperative or early postoperative complications were observed in any patient. The ECD did not change significantly 3 months postoperatively (P=.169). The CDVA improved from 0.19 logMAR ± 0.20 (SD) preoperatively to 0.10 ± 0.16 logMAR 3 months postoperatively; however, the improvement did not attain significance (P=.141). No eye lost lines of CDVA. The mean steep K readings decreased significantly from 48.04 ± 2.57 diopters (D) preoperatively to 46.51 ± 2.81 D 3 months postoperatively (P=.047); the mean flat K readings did not change significantly postoperatively (P=.285).

CONCLUSIONS

Corneal collagen crosslinking at 9 mW/cm(2) irradiance for 10 minutes did not cause significant changes in ECD or intraoperative or early postoperative complications. None patient lost a line of CDVA 3 months after the procedure.

FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE: No author has a financial or proprietary interest in any material or method mentioned.