title: Trans epithelial corneal collagen crosslinking for progressive keratoconus: 6 months follow up.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate keratoconus biomechanical changes after transepithelial corneal collagen cross linking (TE CXL) using riboflavin and ultraviolet A (UVA).
  
  
  METHODS
  Second University of Naples, Naples, Italy.
  
  
  METHODS
  Prospective non comparative case series study.
  
  
  METHODS
  Patients with progressive keratoconus were examined, before and during a 6 months follow up after TE CXL, with a Pentacam, an Ocular Response Analyzer and an IOLMaster. Best corrected visual acuity (BCVA), refraction, corneal thinnest point (CTP), keratometry readings at the keratoconus apex (Kmax), axial eye length (AL), corneal volume (CV) anterior chamber volume (ACV), anterior chamber depth (ACD), corneal hysteresis (CH) and corneal resistance factor (CRF) were evaluated.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Thirty-six eyes of 36 patients with progressive keratoconus were analyzed. Six months after treatment there was a significant improvement in BCVA (p<0.01), no significant changes in refraction (p=0.57), CTP (p=0.07), Kmax (p=0.88), AL (p=0.07), CV (p=0.38), ACV (p=0.07), ACD (p=0.7), CH (p=0.1) and CRF (p=0.3).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  According to our results TE CXL stabilizes most of the patients with progressive keratoconus, without affecting in negative way the corneal elasticity.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Salerno, Salerno, Italy.
authors.forename: Maddalena
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: De Bernardo
authors.affiliation: U.O.C. Prelievo e Trapianto Cornee, Pellegrini Hospital, Naples, Italy.
authors.forename: Luigi
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Capasso
authors.affiliation: U.O.C. Prelievo e Trapianto Cornee, Pellegrini Hospital, Naples, Italy.
authors.forename: Antonia
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Tortori
authors.affiliation: 2nd University of Naples, Naples, Italy.
authors.forename: Michele
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Lanza
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Salerno, Salerno, Italy.
authors.forename: Luisa
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Caliendo
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Salerno, Salerno, Italy. Electronic address: nrosa@unisa.it.
authors.forename: Nicola
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Rosa
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D003315:Cornea / Q000473:pathology* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007640:Keratoconus / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000628:therapy*; D008297:Male; D017319:Photosensitizing Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D012029:Refraction, Ocular; D012256:Riboflavin / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014466:Ultraviolet Rays; D014467:Ultraviolet Therapy / Q000379:methods*
chemical_list: D017319:Photosensitizing Agents; D012256:Riboflavin
keywords: Axial length; Corneal elasticity; Corneal thickness; Cross linking; Keratoconus