Changes in straylight and densitometry values after corneal collagen crosslinking.

Purpose To evaluate the change in backward-directed and forward-directed corneal straylight in eyes after corneal collagen crosslinking (CXL) and its correlation with corrected distance visual acuity (CDVA) and changes in corneal topography. Setting Department of Ophthalmology, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria. Design Retrospective cohort study. Methods Following the Dresden protocol, corneal CXL was performed in eyes with progressive keratoconus. Corneal light scattering was evaluated using densitometry measurements from different corneal layers and zones obtained using Scheimpflug tomography (Pentacam HR). Retinal straylight values were measured using the C-Quant device. The CDVA was recorded during each follow-up examination. Changes in corneal topography were measured using Scheimpflug tomography. Results The study evaluated 31 eyes of 31 patients. The mean densitometry of different corneal layers and in 3 different zones increased 3 months postoperatively and decreased thereafter. The mean densitometry in the 0.0 to 2.0 mm zone remained statistically significantly elevated after 12 months ( P Conclusions Crosslinking-induced stromal changes resulted in an increase in densitometry, especially in the anterior stroma of the central (0.0 to 2.0 mm) zone. These changes correlated with an increase in retinal straylight but not with the postoperative CDVA values. Financial Disclosure No author has a financial or proprietary interest in any material or method mentioned.