Evaluation of Epithelial Integrity with Various Transepithelial Corneal Cross-Linking Protocols for Treatment of Keratoconus

Purpose. Corneal collagen cross-linking (CXL) has been demonstrated to stiffen cornea and halt progression of ectasia. The original protocol requires debridement of central corneal epithelium to facilitate diffusion of a riboflavin solution to stroma. Recently, transepithelial CXL has been proposed...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Suphi Taneri, Saskia Oehler, Grace Lytle, H. Burkhard Dick
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wiley 2014-01-01
Series:Journal of Ophthalmology
Online Access:http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2014/614380
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
_version_ 1832565432490393600
author Suphi Taneri
Saskia Oehler
Grace Lytle
H. Burkhard Dick
author_facet Suphi Taneri
Saskia Oehler
Grace Lytle
H. Burkhard Dick
author_sort Suphi Taneri
collection DOAJ
description Purpose. Corneal collagen cross-linking (CXL) has been demonstrated to stiffen cornea and halt progression of ectasia. The original protocol requires debridement of central corneal epithelium to facilitate diffusion of a riboflavin solution to stroma. Recently, transepithelial CXL has been proposed to reduce risk of complications associated with epithelial removal. Aim of the study is to evaluate the impact of various transepithelial riboflavin delivery protocols on corneal epithelium in regard to pain and epithelial integrity in the early postoperative period. Methods. One hundred and sixty six eyes of 104 subjects affected by progressive keratoconus underwent transepithelial CXL using 6 different riboflavin application protocols. Postoperatively, epithelial integrity was evaluated at slit lamp and patients were queried regarding their ocular pain level. Results. One eye had a corneal infection associated with an epithelial defect. No other adverse event including endothelial decompensation or endothelial damage was observed, except for epithelial damages. Incidence of epithelial defects varied from 0 to 63%. Incidence of reported pain varied from 0 to 83%. Conclusion. Different transepithelial cross-linking protocols have varying impacts on epithelial integrity. At present, it seems impossible to have sufficient riboflavin penetration without any epithelial disruption. A compromise between efficacy and epithelial integrity has to be found.
format Article
id doaj-art-2ca14487e9744b9dafe5c68ac7ca0328
institution Kabale University
issn 2090-004X
2090-0058
language English
publishDate 2014-01-01
publisher Wiley
record_format Article
series Journal of Ophthalmology
spelling doaj-art-2ca14487e9744b9dafe5c68ac7ca03282025-02-03T01:07:47ZengWileyJournal of Ophthalmology2090-004X2090-00582014-01-01201410.1155/2014/614380614380Evaluation of Epithelial Integrity with Various Transepithelial Corneal Cross-Linking Protocols for Treatment of KeratoconusSuphi Taneri0Saskia Oehler1Grace Lytle2H. Burkhard Dick3Center for Refractive Surgery, Eye Department at St. Franziskus Hospital, Muenster, Hohenzollernring 70, 48145 Muenster, GermanyCenter for Refractive Surgery, Eye Department at St. Franziskus Hospital, Muenster, Hohenzollernring 70, 48145 Muenster, GermanyAvedro, Waltham, MA 02451, USAEye Clinic, Ruhr University, Bochum, GermanyPurpose. Corneal collagen cross-linking (CXL) has been demonstrated to stiffen cornea and halt progression of ectasia. The original protocol requires debridement of central corneal epithelium to facilitate diffusion of a riboflavin solution to stroma. Recently, transepithelial CXL has been proposed to reduce risk of complications associated with epithelial removal. Aim of the study is to evaluate the impact of various transepithelial riboflavin delivery protocols on corneal epithelium in regard to pain and epithelial integrity in the early postoperative period. Methods. One hundred and sixty six eyes of 104 subjects affected by progressive keratoconus underwent transepithelial CXL using 6 different riboflavin application protocols. Postoperatively, epithelial integrity was evaluated at slit lamp and patients were queried regarding their ocular pain level. Results. One eye had a corneal infection associated with an epithelial defect. No other adverse event including endothelial decompensation or endothelial damage was observed, except for epithelial damages. Incidence of epithelial defects varied from 0 to 63%. Incidence of reported pain varied from 0 to 83%. Conclusion. Different transepithelial cross-linking protocols have varying impacts on epithelial integrity. At present, it seems impossible to have sufficient riboflavin penetration without any epithelial disruption. A compromise between efficacy and epithelial integrity has to be found.http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2014/614380
spellingShingle Suphi Taneri
Saskia Oehler
Grace Lytle
H. Burkhard Dick
Evaluation of Epithelial Integrity with Various Transepithelial Corneal Cross-Linking Protocols for Treatment of Keratoconus
Journal of Ophthalmology
title Evaluation of Epithelial Integrity with Various Transepithelial Corneal Cross-Linking Protocols for Treatment of Keratoconus
title_full Evaluation of Epithelial Integrity with Various Transepithelial Corneal Cross-Linking Protocols for Treatment of Keratoconus
title_fullStr Evaluation of Epithelial Integrity with Various Transepithelial Corneal Cross-Linking Protocols for Treatment of Keratoconus
title_full_unstemmed Evaluation of Epithelial Integrity with Various Transepithelial Corneal Cross-Linking Protocols for Treatment of Keratoconus
title_short Evaluation of Epithelial Integrity with Various Transepithelial Corneal Cross-Linking Protocols for Treatment of Keratoconus
title_sort evaluation of epithelial integrity with various transepithelial corneal cross linking protocols for treatment of keratoconus
url http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2014/614380
work_keys_str_mv AT suphitaneri evaluationofepithelialintegritywithvarioustransepithelialcornealcrosslinkingprotocolsfortreatmentofkeratoconus
AT saskiaoehler evaluationofepithelialintegritywithvarioustransepithelialcornealcrosslinkingprotocolsfortreatmentofkeratoconus
AT gracelytle evaluationofepithelialintegritywithvarioustransepithelialcornealcrosslinkingprotocolsfortreatmentofkeratoconus
AT hburkharddick evaluationofepithelialintegritywithvarioustransepithelialcornealcrosslinkingprotocolsfortreatmentofkeratoconus