Novel Technique of Transepithelial Corneal Cross-Linking Using Iontophoresis in Progressive Keratoconus

Abstract

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 6months, there was a significant average improvement with an average flattening of themaximum simulated keratometry reading of 0.72\ub11.20D(P = 0.01); in addition, corrected distance visual acuity improved significantly (P = 0.08) and spherical equivalent refraction was significantly lessmyopic (P = 0.02) 6months a\u17fter transepithelial corneal cross-linkingwith iontophoresis. The novel protocol using iontophoresis showed comparable resultswith 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 themanagement of progressive keratoconus