Clinical experience with a novel UV-A-irradiation system for crosslinking treatment in keratoconus

Barbara Daxer, Tihomir Budic, Matthias Macsek, Christian Tomschi, Armin Ettl

Research output: Contribution to conferencePoster at a conference

Abstract

Purpose:

Development of corneal crosslinking was an important step to avoid progression of keratoconus toward corneal blindness. The currently available technologies suffer from deficiencies with respect to an optimal corneal irradiation. These deficiencies include partially unpredictable energy transfer to the cornea for the following reasons: eye movement, often inaccurate and variable distance between corneal surface and irradiation source, inter- and intra-individual variation of corneal steepness in keratoconus. Therefore even after crosslinking a significant number of cases require re-treatment. In this study we present initial clinical experience with a novel technology for UV-A-irradiation for crosslinking treatment which avoids these deficiencies.

Setting:

Department of Ophthalmology, University hospital St. Pölten

Methods:

We have treated 10 keratoconic eyes suffering from mild to moderate keratoconus by means of KERALUX disposable CXL (DIOPTEX GmbH, Austria). KERALUX is equipped with an irradiation channel lined out by a diffusely reflecting foil which is mounted on the eye via a sterile patient interface. The reflecting irradiation channel replaces the free irradiation path known from conventional crosslinking systems. The total energy was 5.4J/cm2 with an intensity of 9mW/cm2 and 10 minutes irradiation time. The procedure was performed as Epi-Off procedure. Follow-ups were up to 1 year.

Results:

No complications occurred during or after the treatment. Epithelial wound closure was finished after 3 days. Best corrected visual acuity (CDVA) returned to the value before treatment within 3 month in all cases. No eye lost one or more lines or gained one or more lines in CDVA after 3 month.

Conclusions:

Our data suggest that corneal cross linking by means of KERALUX disposable CXL is safe and effective. Long-term studies are required to evaluate whether this novel technology will result in less re-treatments for keratoconus progression after initial crosslinking compared to conventional irradiation technologies.
Original languageEnglish
Publication statusPublished - Sept 2019
EventThe 37th Congress of the European Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgeons (ESCRS) - Paris, France
Duration: 14 Sept 201918 Sept 2019
Conference number: 37
https://legacy.escrs.org/paris2019/

Conference

ConferenceThe 37th Congress of the European Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgeons (ESCRS)
Abbreviated titleESCRS 2019
Country/TerritoryFrance
CityParis
Period14.09.201918.09.2019
Internet address

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