Corneal Cross-linking for Pseudophakic Bullous Keratopathy

To evaluate the efficacy of riboflavin administration and ultraviolet A (UVA) cross-linking onadvanced symptomatic bullous keratopathy (BK). 10 patients with symptomatic pseudophakic bullous keratopathy (PBK) were included. Slit-lamp examination, visual acuity, foreign body sensation (FBS) and corneal thickness as measured by Pentacam,were performed before corneal cross-linking. After using sodium chloride solution for one week, the central 8 mm zone of the corneal epithelium was removed, and cross-linking, with riboflavin instillation every 3 minutes for 30 minutes, and UVA irradiation for 40 minutes was performed. VA, FBS and corneal thickness were evaluated up to 6 months. Three male and 7 female patients with mean age of 6613 years were included. Mean follow-up duration was 6.2 months. VA increased in 9 eyes postoperatively, FBS subsided in 70% of patients. Mean corneal thickness was reduced by 74 μm 6 months after the procedure (P= 0.059). Collagen cross linking for BK improves FBS & VA and decreases corneal thickness; this extends the time interval for corneal transplantation and improves visualization for DSAEK procedures.