SF6 gas injection improved corneal edema in study of eyes with keratoconus

Injecting sulfur hexafluoride into the anterior chamber of eyes with keratoconus and acute hydrops can lead to an early reduction in symptoms of corneal edema, according to a study by researchers in India.

Anita Panda, MD, FICS, MRCOpth, and colleagues evaluated the use of sulfur hexafluoride (SF6) gas for managing corneal edema caused by acute corneal hydrops secondary to keratoconus. The study involved nine eyes treated with SF6 gas injection, which were compared with a control group of nine eyes treated with conventional medical therapy.

Of the nine eyes in the SF6-treated group, three received only one gas injection, four received two injections and two received three injections.

Investigators found that all SF6-treated eyes showed early resolution of corneal edema at 4 weeks follow-up. In contrast, control eyes showed resolution of edema at 12 weeks, according to the study.

Eyes treated with SF6 also showed significantly better improvements in central corneal thickness and visual acuity.

In SF6-treated eyes, central corneal thickness improved an average of more than 1 mm at baseline to 0.99 mm at 3 weeks and 0.65 mm at 12 weeks follow-up. In control eyes, central corneal thickness remained at more than 1 mm at 3 weeks, although it improved to 0.991 mm at 12 weeks follow-up, according to the study.

In addition, best corrected visual acuity averaged 0.39 in the SF6-treated group and 0.24 in the control group at 12 weeks follow-up, the authors reported.

The study is published in the October issue of Cornea.