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Photoactivated chromophore corneal cross‐linking (PACK‐CXL) for treatment of severe keratitis
Author(s) -
Idrus Elfa Alidrus,
Utti Elina Maria,
Mattila Jaakko S,
Krootila Kari
Publication year - 2019
Publication title -
acta ophthalmologica
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.534
H-Index - 87
eISSN - 1755-3768
pISSN - 1755-375X
DOI - 10.1111/aos.14001
Subject(s) - medicine , keratitis , visual acuity , fungal keratitis , ophthalmology , antibiotics , surgery , microbiology and biotechnology , biology
Purpose To report our experience with photoactivated chromophore corneal cross‐linking ( PACK ‐ CXL ) for treating keratitis patients. Methods This retrospective study consists of 27 eyes of 26 patients with infectious keratitis treated with PACK ‐ CXL at the Helsinki University Hospital between 2009 and 2017. Patients were treated with antibiotics/antifungal medications and underwent PACK ‐ CXL procedure due to lack of clinical response or severe corneal melts. For twenty patients, amniotic membrane transplant ( AMT ) was done during the same day. Follow‐up after cross‐linking ranged from 1 week to 12 months. Results Sixteen infections were related to contact lens wear. Of the 19 eyes showing positive culture, the predominant micro‐organism was Pseudomonas aeruginosa (9 cases). The average re‐epithelization time was 13 days and in 15 cases (56%) the re‐epithelization occurred within one week. In 26 eyes, visual acuity increased and seven patients (26%) had a final visual acuity more or equal to 0.5 (20/40) Snellen. Conclusions PACK ‐ CXL seems to be a safe and potential option for treating patient with infectious keratitis who do not respond to antibiotic therapy.