Biomechanical Changes of Collagen Cross-Linking on Human Keratoconic Corneas Using Scanning Acoustic Microscopy

Effect of corneal cross-linking on biomechanical changes following transepithelial photorefractive keratectomy and femtosecond laser-assisted LASIK

Purpose: To evaluate the change in corneal biomechanics in patients with postoperative ectasia risk when combining two common laser vision correction procedures (tPRK and FS-LASIK) with cross-linking (in tPRK Xtra and FS-LASIK Xtra). Methods: The study included 143 eyes of 143 myopic, astigmatic patients that were divided into non-cross-linked refractive surgery groups (non-Xtra groups, tPRK and FS-LASIK) and cross-linked groups (Xtra groups, tPRK Xtra and FS-LASIK Xtra) according to an ectasia risk scoring system. The eyes were subjected to measurements including the stress-strain index (SSI), the stiffness parameter at first applanation (SP-A1), the integrated inverse radius (IIR), the deformation amplitude at apex (DA), and the ratio of deformation amplitude between apex and 2 mm from apex (DARatio2mm). The measurements were taken preoperatively and at 1, 3, and 6 months postoperatively (pos1m, pos3m, and pos6m). Posterior demarcation line depth from the endothelium (PDLD) and from the ablation surface (DLA) were recorded at pos1m. Results: SP-A1 significantly decreased, while IIR, deformation amplitude, and DARatio2mm increased significantly postoperatively in all four groups (p < 0.01)-all denoting stiffness decreases. In the FS-LASIK group, the changes in IIR, DA, and DARatio2mm were 32.7 ± 15.1%, 12.9 ± 7.1%, and 27.2 ± 12.0% respectively, which were significantly higher (p < 0.05) compared to 20.1 ± 12.8%, 6.4 ± 8.2%, and 19.7 ± 10.4% in the FS-LASIK Xtra group. In the tPRK group, the change in IIR was 27.3 ± 15.5%, significantly larger than 16.9 ± 13.4% in the tPRK Xtra group. The changes of SSI were minimal in the tPRK (-1.5 ± 21.7%, p = 1.000), tPRK Xtra (8.4 ± 17.9%, p = 0.053), and FS-LASIK Xtra (5.6 ± 12.7%, p = 0.634) groups, but was significant in the FS-LASIK group (-12.1 ± 7.9%, p < 0.01). After correcting for baseline biomechanical metrics, preoperative bIOP and the change in central corneal thickness (△CCT) from pre to pos6m, the changes in the IIR in both FS-LASIK and tPRK groups, as well as DA, DARatio2mm and SSI in the FS-LASIK group remained statistically greater than their corresponding Xtra groups (all p < 0.05). Most importantly, after correcting for these covariates, the changes in DARatio2mm in the FS-LASIK Xtra became statistically smaller than in the tPRK Xtra (p = 0.017). Conclusion: The statistical analysis results indicate that tPRK Xtra and FS-LASIK Xtra effectively reduced the biomechanical losses caused by refractive surgery (tPRK and FS-LASIK). The decrease in corneal overall stiffness was greater in FS-LASIK than in tPRK, and the biomechanical enhancement of CXL was also higher following LASIK than after tPRK.

Assessment of the changes in corneal biomechanical properties after collagen cross-linking in patients with keratoconus

Purpose

To assess the changes in biomechanical properties of the cornea after treatment of keratoconus patients with UV-A/riboflavin corneal collagen cross-linking (CXL) using Corvis ST (Oculus, Wetzlar, Germany) and Ocular Response Analyzer (ORA; Reichert Ophthalmic Instruments, Inc., Buffalo, NY, USA) devices.

Methods

In this prospective, observational case series, 48 eyes from 48 consecutive patients with progressive keratoconus were enrolled. Patients with history or signs of ocular disorders other than keratoconus, previous eye surgery, systemic diseases, or inability to cooperate with any measurement device were excluded. Corvis ST and ORA images were obtained at baseline and 4 months after CXL. The primary outcome measures comprised Corvis ST corneal biomechanical factors [time of highest concavity (T), time of applanation 1 (T1), time of applanation 2 (T2), length of applanation 1 (L1), length of applanation 2 (L2), velocity of applanation 1 (V1), velocity of applanation 2 (V2), deformation amplitude (DA), peak distance (PD), and radius (R)] and the ORA parameters [corneal hysteresis (CH), corneal resistance factor (CRF), Goldmann-related IOP (IOPg), cornea-compensated IOP (IOPcc), and waveform score (WS)].

Results

The mean [± standard deviation (SD)] age of patients was 20 ± 5 years, and 27 (56%) were male. At baseline, the averages of the refraction, mean keratometry, and keratometric astigmatism were −3.0 ± 1.8 diopter (D), 47.0 ± 1.8 D, and 3.5 ± 1.5 D, respectively. According to Corvis ST, L2 increased from 0.83 ± 0.25 mm at baseline to 1.15 ± 0.57 mm after CXL; and V2 decreased from −0.81 ± 0.08 to −0.94 ± 0.26 m/s (P = 0.001 and P = 0.032, respectively). ORA parameters showed significant decrease in the CRF (from 7.82 ± 1.72 to 7.21 ± 1.05 mmHg; P = 0.036) and increase in the WS (from 4.58 ± 2.55 to 6.12 ± 1.92; P = 0.002).

Conclusions

According to in vivo observation with Corvis ST and ORA, CXL induces significant changes in corneal biomechanical properties in cases with keratoconus. The parameters with significant changes (L2 and V2) may reflect increased stiffness of the treated cornea. The importance of such observations should be elucidated in future studies.

Current perspectives on corneal collagen crosslinking (CXL)

Corneal collagen crosslinking has revolutionized the treatment of keratoconus and post-refractive corneal ectasia in the past decade. Corneal crosslinking with riboflavin and ultraviolet A is proposed to halt the progression of keratectasia. In the original "Conventional Dresden Protocol" (C-CXL), the epithelium is removed prior to the crosslinking process to facilitate better absorption of riboflavin into the corneal stroma. Studies analyzing its short- and long-term outcomes revealed that although there are inconsistencies as to the effectiveness of this technique, the advantages prevail over the disadvantages. Therefore, corneal crosslinking (CXL) is widely used in current practice to treat keratoconus. In an attempt to improve the visual and topographical outcomes of C-CXL and to minimize time-related discomfort and endothelial-related side effects, various modifications such as accelerated crosslinking and transepithelial crosslinking methods have been introduced. The comparison of outcomes of these modified techniques with C-CXL has also returned contradictory results. Hence, it is difficult to clearly identify an optimal procedure that can overcome issues associated with the CXL. This review provides an up-to-date analysis on clinical and laboratory findings of these popular crosslinking protocols used in the treatment of keratoconus. It is evident from this review that in general, these modified techniques have succeeded in minimizing the immediate complications of the C-CXL technique. However, there were contradictory viewpoints regarding their effectiveness when compared with the conventional technique. Therefore, these modified techniques need to be further investigated to arrive at an optimal treatment option for keratoconus.

Recent Innovations in Collagen Corneal Cross-linking; a Mini Review

Background:

The introduction of corneal cross-linking (CXL) with ultraviolet-A (UVA) and Riboflavin photosensitizer (Vit B₂) from Seiler et al., revolutionized the treatment of Keratoconus and other corneal ectatic diseases.

Today, the commonly known epithelium off Dresden protocol is in clinical use for the last 15 years with great success and regarded by many as the golden standard.

Methods:

With several studies demonstrating its simplicity, efficacy and safety this revolutionary method, paved the way for new therapies and strategies in the treatment of corneal ectatic diseases and changed our understanding in corneal biomechanics. Recent scientific and technological advances enabled the creation of various modifications of the initial CXL protocol and the formation of new ones.

Conclusion:

This work highlights the recent advances of CXL, such as the role of oxygen, higher fluence and shorter irradiation times as well as the various clinical applications and updates of this method.

Optical coherence elastography assessment of corneal viscoelasticity with a modified Rayleigh-Lamb wave model

The biomechanical properties of the cornea play a critical role in forming vision. Diseases such as keratoconus can structurally degenerate the cornea causing a pathological loss in visual acuity. UV-A/riboflavin corneal collagen crosslinking (CXL) is a clinically available treatment to stiffen the cornea and restore its healthy shape and function. However, current CXL techniques do not account for pre-existing biomechanical properties of the cornea nor the effects of the CXL treatment itself. In addition to the inherent corneal structure, the intraocular pressure (IOP) can also dramatically affect the measured biomechanical properties of the cornea. In this work, we present the details and development of a modified Rayleigh-Lamb frequency equation model for quantifying corneal biomechanical properties. After comparison with finite element modeling, the model was utilized to quantify the viscoelasticity of in situ porcine corneas in the whole eye-globe configuration before and after CXL based on noncontact optical coherence elastography measurements. Moreover, the viscoelasticity of the untreated and CXL-treated eyes was quantified at various IOPs. The results showed that the stiffness of the cornea increased after CXL and that corneal stiffness is close to linear as a function of IOP. These results show that the modified Rayleigh-Lamb wave model can provide an accurate assessment of corneal viscoelasticity, which could be used for customized CXL therapies.

Consideration of corneal biomechanics in the diagnosis and management of keratoconus: is it important?

Keratoconus is a bilateral, non-inflammatory, degenerative corneal disease. The occurrence and development of keratoconus is associated with corneal thinning and conical protrusion, which causes irregular astigmatism. With the disruption of the collagen organization, the cornea loses its shape and function resulting in progressive visual degradation. Currently, corneal topography is the most important tool for the diagnosis of keratoconus, which may lead to false negatives among the patient population in the subclinical phase. However, it is now hypothesised that biomechanical destabilisation of the cornea may take place ahead of the topographic evidence of keratoconus, hence possibly assisting with disease diagnosis and management. This article provides a review of the definition, diagnosis, and management strategies for keratoconus based on corneal biomechanics.