Peripheral Cornea Crosslinking Before Deep Anterior Lamellar Keratoplasty

Abstract Since Cornea crosslinking (CXL) has been proven to halt progression and biomechanically stabilize keratoconus, we hypothesized that CXL of the corneal periphery ۳ months prior to corneal transplantation can reduce the incidence of recurrent ectasia by strengthening the peripheral corneal tissue and causing apoptosis of diseased peripheral host keratocytes. Thus, the aim of this case-repot was to propose a novel peripheral CXL technique prior to keratoplasty and evaluate its safety. A ۲۲-year-old woman was admitted with advanced right keratoconus and corrected distance visual acuities of ۲۰/۳۰ in the right eye and ۲۰/۲۰۰ in the left eye with a manifest refraction of -۳.۰۰D/ -۸.۰۰D × ۳۶° and -۱۷.۰۰D/-۱۱.۵۰D × ۹۰°, respectively. The proposed treatment involved crosslinking of peripheral corneal tissue (۶.۵-۹.۵mm), sparing the central cornea and limbus, three months prior to corneal transplantation as a means of biomechanically strengthening the peripheral cornea tissue. We performed peripheral CXL technique in a patient with keratoconus undergoing deep anterior lamellar keratoplasty (DALK). This procedure was feasible and safe with repopulation of the peripheral cornea with keratocytes and no significant endothelial cell loss. This method might reduce or eliminate the need for repeat corneal transplantation in patients with recurrent ectasia. Further studies are needed to confirm the results.