Effect of corneal collagen crosslinking on corneal sensitivity, tear function and innervation: a clinical and confocal microscopic study

Abstract

Abstract Purpose To evaluate the effect of corneal collagen crosslinking (CXL) on corneal sensitivity, innervation and tear function. Methods We conducted esthesiometry, Shirmer’s II test, tear break up time measurements and confocal microscopy to evaluate innervation in 32 eyes with keratoconus preoperatively, and one, three and six months post CXL. Results Sensitivity decreased significantly the first postoperative month (p<0.05) with restoration until the sixth. Tear break up time and Shirmer’s II scores remained unaffected (p>0.05). Denervation appeared one month postoperatively and began retrieving by the third month. Conclusion The main outcome of this study is that corneal innervation and sensitivity is significantly affected by crosslinking, but preoperative sensitivity is restored to the preoperative levels after six months.