title: Corneal crosslinking and visual rehabilitation in keratoconus in one session without epithelial debridement: new technique.
abstract: A new surgical technique for the treatment of keratoconus is presented. This technique combines a new corneal crosslinking method with implantation of a flexible full-ring implant into a "closed" corneal pocket via a narrow incision tunnel in 1 surgical session. Riboflavin is not applied in the form of eyedrops onto a corneal surface after epithelial removal but is instilled into the corneal pocket without the need for epithelial debridement. A case of advanced keratoconus treated in this manner is presented. Uncorrected visual acuity increased by 7 lines from 0.05 to 0.25, and the average central K reading decreased by 11 diopters. The haze seen during the early postoperative period diminished in the first month after surgery.
authors.affiliation: Daxer Eye Center, Linz-Ybbs, Austria. daxer@gutsehen.at
authors.forename: Albert
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Daxer
authors.forename: Haifa A
authors.initials: HA
authors.lastname: Mahmoud
authors.forename: R S
authors.initials: RS
authors.lastname: Venkateswaran
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003094:Collagen / Q000378:metabolism*; D003319:Corneal Stroma / Q000378:metabolism*; D019781:Corneal Topography; D003646:Debridement; D019573:Epithelium, Corneal / Q000601:surgery; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007640:Keratoconus / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism; D010778:Photochemotherapy / Q000379:methods*; D017319:Photosensitizing Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage; D019919:Prosthesis Implantation; D012256:Riboflavin / Q000008:administration & dosage; D014786:Vision Disorders / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D014792:Visual Acuity / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D017319:Photosensitizing Agents; D003094:Collagen; D012256:Riboflavin