Mechanical epithelial removal in cross-linking may have fewer short-term complications

Corneal collagen cross-linking performed with transepithelial phototherapeutic keratectomy may result in more short-term complications compared with mechanical epithelial removal in keratoconus patients, according to a study.

The nonrandomized retrospective study evaluated 153 eyes that had transepithelial PTK (group 1) and 256 eyes that had mechanical epithelial removal (group 2) to compare complications within the first 3 months after corneal collagen cross-linking.

Overall, short-term complications occurred in 37.3% of eyes in group 1 and 9.4% of eyes in group 2.

In group 1, 23 eyes had delayed epithelial healing vs. nine eyes in group 2, while 38 eyes in group 1 had epithelial hypertrophy compared with nine eyes in group 2 (both P = .001).

Group 2 had significantly high grade 1+ corneal haze, while grades 2+ and 3+ were significantly high in group 1 (P = .001).

“Most short-term complications with both epithelial removal techniques were minor and occurred and resolved during the first month of surgery,” the study authors said. “Therefore, patients who had CXL with either epithelial removal technique would require close follow-up by an experienced cornea specialist during the first month after surgery.” – by Kristie L. Kahl

Disclosure: The authors report no relevant financial disclosures.

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Source:

Cagil N, et al. J Cataract Refract Surg. 2015;doi:10.1016/j.jcrs.2014.12.058.