Clinical Ophthalmology (Apr 2023)
Novel Technique to Improve the Efficacy of Corneal Cross Linking in Cases of Post LASIK Ectasia
Abstract
Mohamed Omar Yousif,1,2 Rania Serag Elkitkat,1,3– 5 Noha Abdelsadek Alaarag1 1Ophthalmology Department, Faculty of Medicine, Ain Shams University, Cairo, Egypt; 2Maadi Eye Subspecialty Center, Cairo, Egypt; 3Watany Eye Hospital, Cairo, Egypt; 4Watany Research and Development Center, Cairo, Egypt; 5Ophthalmology Department, Faculty of Medicine, MTI University, Cairo, EgyptCorrespondence: Rania Serag Elkitkat, Future City, Shorouk, Cairo, Egypt, 11779, Tel +2012 21753904, Email [email protected]; [email protected]: The aim of the present study was to validate the use of a novel technique that can improve the efficacy of corneal cross-linking (CXL) in cases with post LASIK ectasia.Methods: This is a retrospective, comparative study that was conducted on patients who sought medical advice at Ain Shams University Hospitals and Maadi Eye Subspeciality Center, Cairo, Egypt. It included two groups of patients with post LASIK ectasia. Group 1 included patients who performed our proposed protocol (topo-guided PRK, followed by customized phototherapeutic keratectomy “PTK” to transmit the laser treatment to the corneal stroma, then CXL). For group 2, accelerated CXL was performed. Subjective refraction and relevant topographic/tomographic parameters (Sirius topographer) compared between the two groups. Recorded follow-ups included the 2 to 3-month follow-up visit and the last visit (mean ± SD of 17.2 months ± 10.2).Results: Patients of group 1 (22 eyes of 22 patients) experienced significant improvements in most of the evaluated parameters at the 2- to 3-month follow-up visit and showed stability of the ectatic condition at the last follow-up visit, whereas patients of group 2 (10 eyes of 10 patients) showed stability of their ectatic condition at the 2- to 3-month follow-up visit, and one patient developed ectasia progression at the last follow-up visit.Conclusion: The present study validates the use of our novel protocol in cases having post LASIK ectasia with proven efficacy, safety, and stability, providing regularization for the corneal surface while simultaneously avoiding the unnecessary loss of cross-linking effect within the LASIK flap that no longer shares in the corneal biomechanical strength.Keywords: post LASIK ectasia, novel technique post LASIK ectasia, corneal cross-linking, strengthening cross-linking efficacy, post LASIK ectasia management
