Corneal Changes After Collagen Crosslinking for Keratoconus Using Dual Scheimpflug Imaging

Area of Science:

• Ophthalmology
• Corneal Surgery
• Biomedical Engineering

Background:

• Keratoconus (KCN) is a progressive corneal ectasia leading to visual impairment.
• Collagen crosslinking (CXL) is a promising therapeutic approach to halt KCN progression.
• The Galilei dual Scheimpflug analyzer offers advanced corneal imaging for precise assessment.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate corneal structural and visual changes following collagen crosslinking (CXL) therapy in patients with keratoconus (KCN).
• To assess the efficacy of CXL in stabilizing corneal parameters using advanced diagnostic tools.

Main Methods:

• A prospective study of 35 eyes from 32 KCN patients undergoing CXL.
• Corneal saturation with riboflavin followed by ultraviolet-A (UV-A) irradiation.
• Pre- and post-treatment assessment using the Galilei dual Scheimpflug analyzer, including visual acuity, refractive error, keratometry, pachymetry, and elevation mapping.

Main Results:

• Significant improvements in uncorrected visual acuity (UCVA) and best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) were observed post-CXL.
• A significant increase in myopic spherical equivalent refractive error was noted.
• No significant changes in corneal thickness or elevation parameters were detected during the follow-up period.

Conclusions:

• Collagen crosslinking (CXL) therapy demonstrates efficacy in stabilizing keratoconus (KCN).
• CXL contributes to improved visual function and refractive outcomes in KCN patients.
• The Galilei system provides comprehensive data for evaluating CXL treatment effectiveness.