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Epithelium remodels after accelerated cross-linking
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Eyes with progressive keratoconus experienced significant epithelial remodeling after accelerated corneal cross-linking and improved regularity across the central 6 mm of the cornea, according to a study.
The prospective case series included 27 eyes of 20 patients with progressive keratoconus who underwent accelerated CXL.
“We basically found two findings of interest. First, the process of epithelial remodeling after accelerated cross-linking appears to be similar to that found after standard cross-linking, with improved regularization in overall epithelial thickness but with variation of response between patients. Further, we found minimal correlation between focal changes in curvature seen after cross-linking and regional epithelial thickness changes. This implies that epithelial remodeling is not the primary cause of corneal flattening found after cross-linking, as some have suggested,” James Bradley Randleman, MD, a co-author of the study, told Healio.com/OSN.
At 3 months, the mean epithelium was thinner in the outer nasal region by 2.9 µm (P = .01) and outer inferonasal region by 3.6 µm (P = .002) compared with pre-CXL values. The epithelium was significantly thinner in the outer nasal and outer inferonasal regions at 6 months and 12 months postoperatively compared with pre-CXL values.
The correlation between focal epithelial thickness and focal anterior curvature change was poor. – by Robert Linnehan
Disclosures: Haberman and Randleman report no relevant financial disclosures. Please see the study for all other authors’ relevant financial disclosures.
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