Determination of the excimer laser ablation rate in previously cross-linked corneas.

PURPOSE To evaluate the need for and quantify the extent of nomogram adjustments to compensate for potential changes in the amount of effective corneal stroma ablated in previously cross-linked corneas. METHODS Ex vivo porcine corneas were divided into two groups (the corneal cross-linking [CXL] group, n = 30; and the control group, n = 3): these experimental corneas underwent CXL including deepithelialization, instillation of riboflavin solution for 25 minutes, and ultraviolet-A irradiation at 9 mW/cm2 for 10 minutes. The control group was deepithelialized only. Four consecutive excimer laser ablations of 50 pm each were performed (AMARIS 750S; SCHWIND eye-tech-solutions, Kleinostheim Germany), and stromal bed thickness was measured with a built-in optical coherence pachymeter. To determine the potential influence of riboflavin, a third group (the riboflavin group, n = 12) underwent deepithelialization and instillation of riboflavin, but no ultraviolet-A irradiation. RESULTS The mean individual ablation depth across the four ablations was significantly smaller in cross-linked corneas (-17%) when compared to untreated control corneas (P < .001). A consistent reduction of 12% was observed via a cumulative analysis when assessing the relative isolated effect of CXL on the ablation rate. There was no significant effect from riboflavin in the deeper ablations, except for the first ablation (68.6 + 1.1 mm [range: 1 to 50 pm]). This may be due to a measurement error in pachymetric readings due to the thin film of riboflavin on the surface that resists even extensive rinsing. CONCLUSIONS CXL reduces the corneal ablation depth of excimer lasers in the anterior 200 pm of the porcine cornea by approximately 12%. Further clinical studies are needed to validate these findings in human corneas.