Corneal Stiffening by a Bacteriochlorophyll Derivative With Dextran and Near-Infrared Light: Effect of Shortening Irradiation Time up to 1 Minute

Purpose: The aim of this study is to determine the effect of variation of the exposure time of near-infrared irradiation on corneal stiffening after a bacteriochlorophyll derivative (WST11) with dextran (WST-D) application. Methods: One hundred four paired eyes of 3-month-old New Zealand White rabbits were included in this study. Fifty-two eyes (ex vivo n = 34, in vivo n = 18) were mechanically deepithelialized, treated topically with WST-D, and irradiated at 10 mW/cm2 using a diode laser at 755 nm for 1, 5, or 30 minutes. Untreated fellow eyes served as controls. Corneoscleral rings were removed immediately after treatment (ex vivo), or 1 month after treatment (in vivo). Corneal strips were cut and underwent biomechanical stress–strain measurements. Results: Ex vivo, the mean tangent elastic modulus was significantly higher in the treatment groups than in the control groups for 1, 5, and 30 minutes of irradiation, respectively, 6.06 MPa, 95% confidence interval (CI, 4.5–7.6) versus 14.02 MPa, 95% CI (10.2–17.8), n = 11, 4.8 MPa, 95% CI (3.9–5.7) versus 15.03 MPa, 95% CI (12–18.1), n = 11, and 7.8 MPa, 95% CI (5.6–10.02) versus 16.2 MPa, 95% CI (13.6–18.9), n = 11; P
Source: Cornea - Category: Opthalmology Tags: Basic Investigation Source Type: research