Comparison Of Biomechanical Efficacy Between Rose Bengal-Green Light And Riboflavin Uva Crosslinking

To investigate the corneal biomechanical changes after corneal crosslinking (CXL) treatments with rose bengal–green light (RGX) and riboflavin-UVA (UVX).

Ankara City Hospital-Ankara/Turkey

A total of 60 fresh enucleated lamb eyes were provided for this experimental study. 15
eyes were treated with RGX using 0.1% rose bengal solution (group 1), 15 eyes were treated
with RGX using 0.2% rose bengal solution (group 2), 15 eyes were treated with UVX using
0.1% riboflavin solution (group 3), and 15 eyes were used as controls (group 4). Same treatment
protocol was applied to all treatment groups (10 minutes irradiation using a total of 5.4J/cm 2
energy). To evaluate corneal biomechanical changes, stress-strain test was used for both treated
and control corneas. Elasticity modulus was calculated using the tension strain curves obtained
during the test.

The average elasticity modulus was calculated as 18.9, 23.5, 22.3 and 14.1 MPa in
Groups 1, 2, 3 and 4, respectively. Statistically significant difference was found between groups
except between group 2 and 3 (p<0.001: Group1-2, p=0.002: Group 1-3, p<0.001: Group 1-4,
p=0.11: Group 2-3, p<0.001: Group 2-4, p<0.001: Group 3-4).

In this study, in which the efficacy of CXL treatment on corneal biomechanics
using RB solutions at different concentrations was investigated for the first time in the literature,
the 0.2% RB solution has been shown to be as effective as the standard accelerated CXL
protocol on the corneal elasticity modulus.