BACKGROUND To compare the changes in anterior and posterior corneal elevations after combined transepithelial photorefractive keratectomy (PRK) and accelerated corneal collagen cross-linking (CXL) and after PRK. METHODS Medical records of 82 eyes of 44 patients undergoing either combined transepithelial PRK and CXL (PRK-CXL group) or transepithelial PRK (PRK group) were examined retrospective...

Corneal collagen cross-linking (CXL) is a therapeutic procedure aiming at increasing the corneal stiffness in the keratoconus eyes by induction of cross-links within the extracellular matrix. It is achieved by ultraviolet-A (370 nm) irradiation of the cornea after saturation with the photosensitizer riboflavin. In the conventional CXL protocol, a minimum de-epithelialized corneal thickness of 4...

PURPOSE To review outcomes of corneal collagen cross-linking (CXL) for keratoconus (KC) or ectasia in a cornea subspecialty practice. METHODS Results from controlled clinical trials at a single site cornea subspecialty practice, including 104 eyes (66 KC and 38 ectasia). Outcomes and the natural course of changes in postoperative parameters including maximum keratometry (KMax), uncorrected vi...

PURPOSE New corneal cross-linking (CXL) devices are capable of using higher UV-A light irradiances than used in original CXL protocols. The Bunsen-Roscoe law states that a photochemical reaction should stay constant if the delivered total energy is kept constant; however, little clinical data are available to support this hypothesis. METHODS We investigated the biomechanical properties of fou...

PURPOSE To evaluate changes in crystalline lens densitometry following corneal cross-linking (CXL) in keratoconic patients. METHODS In a quasi-experimental study, three-dimensional lens densitometry was performed using the Pentacam Scheimpflug camera (Oculus Optikgerate GmbH, Wetzlar, Germany) at baseline and six months after CXL. Densitometry was performed in a fixed area of 2 inch × 1 inch ...

PURPOSE The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of accelerated cross-linking (CXL) on corneal endothelium in keratoconus and postlaser-assisted in situ keratomileusis (LASIK) ectasia. DESIGN This study is a prospective nonrandomized controlled study. SETTING This study was conducted in Mansoura Ophthalmic Center (Mansoura University) and Al-Mostakbal Ophthalmic Center, Mansour...

PURPOSE To model keratoconus (KC) progression and investigate the differential responses of central and eccentric cones to standard and alternative collagen cross-linking (CXL) patterns. METHODS Three-dimensional finite element models (FEMs) were generated with clinical tomography and IOP measurements. Graded reductions in regional corneal hyperelastic properties and thickness were imposed se...

PURPOSE Corneal collagen cross-linking (CXL) is a method for modifying the natural history of keratoconus and other corneal ectatic diseases. The authors evaluated the use of collagenase for generating an experimental model of ectasia to evaluate the topographic effects of CXL interventions. METHODS Nine human corneoscleral specimens unsuitable for transplantation were used. After epithelial ...

PURPOSE To compare the occurrence rate and depth of the demarcation line and topographical outcome after corneal cross-linking (CXL) for keratoconus using two different treatment protocols. METHODS A retrospective analysis of 131 eyes with progressive keratoconus treated with CXL using riboflavin and UV-A was performed. Eyes were treated either with the standard Dresden protocol (30 minutes i...