Evaluation of Corneal Biomechanical Changes After Collagen Crosslinking in Patients with Progressive Keratoconus by...

To evaluate corneal biomechanics before and after collagen crosslinking (CXL) in patients with progressive keratoconus.

In this prospective study, CXL was performed under topical anesthesia after removal of the epithelium (epi-off technique) by applying ultraviolet A (UVA) light at a wavelength of 365 nm and power of 3 mW/cm2 or 5.4 joule/cm2. Isoosmolar 0.1% riboflavin solution was administered before and during UVA irradiation. In addition to ophthalmologic examination, ocular response analyzer measurements were performed pre- and postoperatively. Corneal hysteresis (CH), corneal resistance factor (CRF), corneal compensated intraocular pressure (IOPcc), Goldmann-correlated intraocular pressure (IOPg), and central corneal thickness (CCT) were recorded.

The study included 35 eyes of 30 patients with progressive keratoconus. The mean age was 28.2±6.5 years and postoperative follow-up time was 20.2±14.7 months (range: 6-74 months). The mean CH was 8.60±1.23 mmHg preoperatively, 8.96±2.05 mmHg in the early postoperative period (1-6 months), (p=0.28) and 8.96±1.28 mmHg in the late postoperative period (10-29 months) (p=0.48). Mean CRF was 7.13±1.50 mmHg preoperatively, 8.48±2.16 mmHg in the early postoperative period (p=0.009), and 7.71±1.29 mmHg in the late postoperative period (p=0.40). Mean IOPcc was 12.78±2.34 mmHg preoperatively, 15.38±4.21 mmHg in the early postoperative period (p=0.12) and 13.68±3.61 mmHg in the late postoperative period (p=0.48). Mean IOPg was 9.56±2.73 mmHg preoperatively, 13.01±4.45 mmHg in the early postoperative period (p=0.046), and 10.86±3.47 mmHg in the late postoperative period (p=0.44). Mean CCT was 484.43±41.26 µm preoperatively, 474.16±64.74 µm in the early postoperative period (p=0.70), and 470.38±33.64 µm in late postoperative period (p=0.71).

CXL is a treatment modality believed to affect corneal biomechanics in keratoconus, but the results of larger patient series with longer follow-up periods may enable a better evaluation.