[Therapeutic effect of corneal cross-linking on symptomatic bullous keratopathy].
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the corneal cross-linking (CXL) effect on symptomatic bullous keratopathy, and its impact on the visual acuity, corneal thickness and pain symptomatology.


METHODS
Twelve patients with symptomatic bullous keratophaty were included. A clinical examination with a specific questionnaire (pain scale-visual numeric analog scale), visual acuity, and corneal thickness measures was performed before corneal cross-linking and 7, 30 and 60 days after the procedure. In all patients, the treatment with the UVA-crosslinking was done after corneal abrasion on the slit-lamp and instillation of 0.1% riboflavin in saline for every five minutes, lasting 30 minutes. Subsequently, the patient underwent the UVA light exposure, using riboflavin and topical anesthesia, every five minutes lasting 30 minutes. The patient received 0.3% ofloxacine drops, and artificial tears until complete reepithelization. The Friedman test was used to compare the means of frequencies of visual acuity, pain symptoms and corneal thickness. A 'p' value<0.05 was considered for rejecting the null hypothesis.


RESULTS
Twelve eyes from 12 patients with recurrent epithelium erosions were treated. The mean follow-up was two months. Significant pain reduction was observed (p<0.001). Corneal thickness and visual acuity measurements presented with no significant difference.


CONCLUSIONS
The potential use of cross-linking in the treatment of bullous keratopathy pain was proved to be likely. A longer follow-up to confirm whether these results can be reproduced in the long term is necessary.
Gadelha
Diego Nery Benevides
DN
Fundação Altino Ventura, Recife, PE, Brazil.
Cavalcanti
Bernardo Menelau
BM
Bravo Filho
Vasco
V
Andrade Júnior
Newton
N
Batista
Neylane Nyéria Coelho
NN
Escarião
Ana Cecília de Sousa Leão
AC
Urbano
Roberta Ventura
RV
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003316:Corneal Diseases / Q000628:therapy*; D019781:Corneal Topography; D003432:Cross-Linking Reagents; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010147:Pain Measurement; D017319:Photosensitizing Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D012256:Riboflavin / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014466:Ultraviolet Rays; D014792:Visual Acuity
D003432:Cross-Linking Reagents; D017319:Photosensitizing Agents; D012256:Riboflavin