Novel Technique of Transepithelial Corneal Cross-Linking Using Iontophoresis in Progressive Keratoconus.
In this work, the authors presented the techniques and the preliminary results at 6 months of a randomized controlled trial (NCT02117999) comparing a novel transepithelial corneal cross-linking protocol using iontophoresis with the Dresden protocol for the treatment of progressive keratoconus. At 6 months, there was a significant average improvement with an average flattening of the maximum simulated keratometry reading of 0.72 ± 1.20 D (P = 0.01); in addition, corrected distance visual acuity improved significantly (P = 0.08) and spherical equivalent refraction was significantly less myopic (P = 0.02) 6 months after transepithelial corneal cross-linking with iontophoresis. The novel protocol using iontophoresis showed comparable results with standard corneal cross-linking to halt progression of keratoconus during 6-month follow-up. Investigation of the long-term RCT outcomes are ongoing to verify the efficacy of this transepithelial corneal cross-linking protocol and to determine if it may be comparable with standard corneal cross-linking in the management of progressive keratoconus.
Fondazione G.B. Bietti, IRCCS, Via Livenza 3, 00198 Roma, Italy.
Marco
0000-0001-8842-7102
M
Lombardo
Fondazione G.B. Bietti, IRCCS, Via Livenza 3, 00198 Roma, Italy.
Sebastiano
0000-0002-4141-6462
S
Serrao
Dipartimento di Medicina Molecolare, Università di Padova, Via A. Gabelli 63, 35121 Padova, Italy.
Paolo
P
Raffa
Fondazione G.B. Bietti, IRCCS, Via Livenza 3, 00198 Roma, Italy.
Marianna
M
Rosati
Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche, Istituto per i Processi Chimico-Fisici, Viale Stagno d'Alcontres 37, 98158 Messina, Italy; Vision Engineering Italy srl, Via Adda 7, 00198 Rome, Italy.
Giuseppe
0000-0002-9416-967X
G
Lombardo