Corneal collagen cross-linking for Terrien marginal degeneration

Abstract

Purpose: To report the long-term clinical outcome of a patient diagnosed as having Terrien marginal degeneration (TMD) who was subjected to corneal collagen cross-linking (CXL) with ultraviolet-A and riboflavin in both eyes.

Methods: Topographical changes were assessed by high-resolution Scheimpflug imaging and anterior segment optical coherence tomography. Eccentric epithelium-off CXL was performed in both eyes while protecting the corneal limbus. Irradiation was performed with a fluence of 5.4 J/cm(2), using 3 mW/cm(2) for 30 minutes.

Results: Five years of postoperative follow-up showed regression of the keratometric values, a local thickening of the corneal stroma, and bilateral improvement of corrected distance visual acuity.

Conclusions: CXL may arrest progression in TMD and even reverse the catabolic process in the corneal stroma. CXL might represent an alternative therapeutic approach for the management of TMD.