Lorelei L. Vicente, M.D. Brian S. Boxer Wachler, M.D. One Year Safety Analysis of Endothelial Cell Counts of Trans-Epithelial Corneal Crosslinking for Keratoconus Lorelei L. Vicente, M.D. Brian S. Boxer Wachler, M.D. BEVERLY HILLS , CA
Disclosure Financial declaration/conflict of interest: Dr. Boxer Wachler is consultant to Addition Technology and Staar Surgical. Dr. Vicente has no financial interest in the subject matter of this paper.
Purpose To assess change in endothelial cell count (ECC) of patients with keratoconus after trans-epithelial corneal collagen crosslinking with riboflavin-carboxymethylcellulose (RF-CMC).
Methods Trans-Epithelial Crosslinking using 66 eyes of 45 patients (39 +/- 14 y.o.) Trans-Epithelial Crosslinking using 0.1 % riboflavin with 0.5% carboxymethylcellulose (RF-CMC) and Tetracaine keratoconus – 56 eyes (86%) keratectasia – 10 eyes (14%) post LASIK - 8 eyes post RK - 2 eyes 26 eyes (39%) - Trans-Epithelial Crosslinking only 40 eyes (61%) - Intacs and Trans-Epithelial Crosslinking
Methods Specular microscopy IConan Noncon ROBO SP-9900 Dot method Konan Medical Inc., Hyogo, Japan Dot method 70 contiguous cells are marked to estimate endothelial cell density
Trans-Epithelial Crosslinking Pretreatment with Tetracaine and RF-CMC Instilled one drop after another every 5 minutes for 15 minutes Trans-Epithelial Crosslinking Protocol RF-CMC (q 3 min.) & Tetracaine (q 10 min.) for 30 mins. Applied via soppy, wet surgical sponges (Merocel eye spears, Medtronic, Jacksonville, FL) Ultraviolet-A light (3.0 mW/cm2 at 370 nm)
Results
Conclusion (RF-CMC) is Safe to the Endothelium Trans-Epithelial Crosslinking using 0.1% riboflavin w/ 0.5% CMC (RF-CMC) is Safe to the Endothelium