Ultraviolet A/riboflavin corneal cross-linking for infectious keratitis associated with corneal melts.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the efficacy of ultraviolet-corneal cross-linking (CXL) for treating infectious melting keratitis.


METHODS
Five patients with infectious keratitis associated with corneal melting were treated with CXL at the outpatient departments of the Institut für Refraktive und Ophthalmo-Chirurgie and the eye hospital at the University of Zurich. CXL was performed when the infection did not respond to systemic and topical antibiotic therapy. Follow-up after cross-linking ranged from 1 to 9 months.


RESULTS
In all cases, the progression of corneal melting was halted after CXL treatment. Emergency keratoplasty was not necessary in any of the 5 cases presented.


CONCLUSIONS
CXL is a promising option for treating patients with therapy-refractory infectious keratitis to avoid emergency keratoplasty.
Iseli
Hans Peter
HP
Institute of Refractive and Ophthalmic Surgery, Zurich, Switzerland. hanspeter.iseli@iroc.ch
Thiel
Michael A
MA
Hafezi
Farhad
F
Kampmeier
Juergen
J
Seiler
Theo
T
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000935:Antifungal Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001419:Bacteria / Q000302:isolation & purification; D003320:Corneal Ulcer / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000382:microbiology; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D015818:Eye Infections, Bacterial / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000382:microbiology; D015821:Eye Infections, Fungal / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000382:microbiology; D005260:Female; D005658:Fungi / Q000302:isolation & purification; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010778:Photochemotherapy; D017319:Photosensitizing Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D012256:Riboflavin / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D014467:Ultraviolet Therapy
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D000935:Antifungal Agents; D017319:Photosensitizing Agents; D012256:Riboflavin