Dr. ANKITA BAHETI

Dr.Vardhaman Kankaria

Abstract

This prospective case series included 21 patients (30 eyes) with progressive keratoconus who underwent combined transepithelial phototherapeutic keratectomy (t-PTK) and accelerated corneal crosslinking (CXL).The UVA irradiation was performed for 10 minutes at intended irradiance of 9 mW/cm2.The change in corrected distance visual acuity (CDVA), steep and flat keratometry (K) values and endothelial cell density (ECD) was evaluated at 6 months postoperatively. No complications were observed.The mean stromal demarcation line 1 month postoperatively was noted at depth of 267.46 ± 35.37 µm.The mean CDVA improved from 0.36 ± 0.21 to 0.28 ± 0.18 logMAR postoperatively (p = 0.16). None of the eyes lost lines of CDVA.The mean steep K readings decreased significantly from 51.38 ± 3.47 to 49.24 ± 2.81 diopters postoperatively (p = 0.042).The mean flat K readings and ECD did not change significantly.This modified Cretan protocol using accelerated CXL with t-PTK was found to be effective and safe.