March 2017 Vol. 5 No.3

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Original Research Article

Efficiency evaluation of corneal collagen crosslinking intervention in patients with keratoconus

Miruna Burcel^1*, Catalina Corbu^1,3, Vasile Potop^1,3, Mihaela Constantin², Dana Dascalescu¹, Catalina Ionescu¹, Valeria Coviltir^1,3, Marian Burcea^1,3, Radu Ciuluvica⁵ and Liliana Voinea^3,4

¹Clinical Hospital of Ophthalmologic Emergencies, Piata Alexandru Lahovari1, Bucharest, Romania
²Oftaclinic, Bucharest, Romania
³Division of Ophthalmology, Faculty of Medicine, “Carol Davila” University of Medicine and
Pharmacy, Bulevardul Eroii Sanitari 8, 050474, Bucharest, Romania
⁴Departament of Ophthalmology, University Emergency Hospital, SplaiulIndependetei 169, 050098, Bucharest, Romania
⁵Faculty of Dental Medicine, “Carol Davila” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Bulevardul Eroii Sanitari 8, 050474, Bucharest, Romania

*Corresponding Author Email: cristea.miruna@yahoo.com
Tel.: no. +40767571423

Accepted February 24, 2017

Abstract

The purpose of the paper is to evaluate the safety and efficiency of corneal collagen crosslinking (CXL) intervention in patients with progressive keratoconus. This study included patients having different evaluative stages of keratoconus, showing eligibility criteria for the crosslinking technique. The procedure has been applied to 90 eyes of 72 patients; corrected and uncorrected visual acuity, corneal thickness values and topographic aspects were recorded before and after intervention. Visual acuity improved for the majority of cases. The average decrease of the maximum keratometric values was 1.51±1.85 dioptres. Among the patients who underwent crosslinking, 5 met the criteria for progression and 2 of them underwent redo CXL. Corneal collagen crosslinking is the therapeutic method for increasing corneal biomechanical stability by binding new links between collagen fibrils using ultraviolet light and riboflavin as photo sensibilising agent. A close follow-up is necessary after the procedure. Risk factors associated with progression after primary CXL remain unclear and more studies are needed to clarify it.

Keywords: Corneal collagen crosslinking, Keratoconus, Keratometry, Pachimetry, Topography