title: Transepithelial corneal collagen crosslinking: bilateral study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the efficacy of transepithelial collagen crosslinking (CXL) in patients with bilateral progressive keratoconus.
  
  
  METHODS
  Outpatient ophthalmic clinic.
  
  
  METHODS
  Cohort study.
  
  
  METHODS
  Patients with a history of bilateral progressive keratoconus were recruited. The worst eye was treated with transepithelial CXL, while the fellow eye was left untreated as a control. Transepithelial CXL was performed by applying an enhanced riboflavin solution (riboflavin 0.1%, dextrane T500 with trometamol [Tris-hydroxymethyl aminomethane] and EDTA [ethylenediaminetetraacetic] sodium salt) on the intact corneal epithelium for 30 minutes before irradiation with ultraviolet A (370 nm at 3 mW/cm(2)) for 30 minutes. Follow-up was 18 months in all eyes.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The study enrolled 20 patients. Transient hyperemia and mild foreign-body sensation occurred in 8 eyes (40%) after treatment; both resolved after 24 hours. In treated eyes, there were statistically significant improvements in uncorrected and corrected visual acuity and topography-derived keratometry, cone apex power, and higher-order aberrations (P<.05). In untreated control eyes, there was a general trend toward worsening of these parameters. No complications were reported.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Transepithelial CXL treatment appeared to halt keratoconus progression, with a statistically significant improvement in visual and topographic parameters. The treatment was safe and well tolerated. Its noninvasive nature makes it potentially useful in cases in which epithelial debridement is ideally avoided, such as pediatric cases, uncooperative patients, and thin corneas with thicknesses nearing 380 μm.
authors: Casa Di Cura Di Stefano-Velona, Catania, Italy. m.filippello@gmail.com
authors: Massimo
authors: M
authors: Filippello
authors: Edoardo
authors: E
authors: Stagni
authors: David
authors: D
authors: O'Brart
mesh_terms: D057128:Aberrometry; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002452:Cell Count; D002648:Child; D003094:Collagen / Q000378:metabolism*; D019781:Corneal Topography; D003432:Cross-Linking Reagents; D018450:Disease Progression; D004728:Endothelium, Corneal / Q000473:pathology; D019573:Epithelium, Corneal / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007640:Keratoconus / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D017319:Photosensitizing Agents / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012256:Riboflavin / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D041623:Tomography, Optical Coherence; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014466:Ultraviolet Rays; D014792:Visual Acuity / Q000502:physiology; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D003432:Cross-Linking Reagents; D017319:Photosensitizing Agents; D003094:Collagen; D012256:Riboflavin