Scleral cross-linking using riboflavin and ultraviolet-A radiation for prevention of progressive myopia in a rabbit model

Assaf Dotan*, Israel Kremer, Tami Livnat, Arie Zigler, Dov Weinberger, Dan Bourla

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

45 Scopus citations

Abstract

Our study demonstrates the effect of scleral cross-linking using riboflavin and ultraviolet-A radiation on the development of axial myopia in a rabbit model. Axial length of the eyeball was measured by A-scan ultrasound in 22 New Zealand white rabbits aged 13 days. The right eyes then underwent 360-degree conjunctival peritomy with (experimental group, n=11) or without (control group, n=11) scleral cross-linking, followed by tarsorrhaphy. The left eyes served as a control eye. In the experimental group, the right eyeballs were divided into quadrants, and every quadrant had either 2 ( n=8) or 6 ( n=3) scleral irradiation zones, each with an area of 0.2cm2 and radius of 4mm. Cross-linking was performed by dropping 0.1% dextran-free riboflavin-5-phosphate onto the irradiation zones at 20s before ultraviolet-A irradiation and every 20s during the 200-sirradiation time. UVA radiation (370nm) was applied perpendicular to the sclera at 57mW/cm2 (total UVA light dose, 57J/cm2). Tarsorrhaphies were removed on day 55, followed by repeated axial-length measurement.In the control group, mean axial length in the right eyes increased from 10.50±0.67mm at baseline to 15.69±0.39mm 55 days later, for a mean change of 5.19±0.85mm. In the experimental group, corresponding values were 10.68±0.74mm and 14.29±0.3mm, for a mean change of 3.61±0.76mm. The between-group difference in the change in mean axial length was statistically significant ( p<0.001, Mann-Whitney nonparametric test).The present manuscript demonstrates that scleral cross-linking with riboflavin and ultraviolet-A radiation effectively prevents occlusion-induced axial elongation in a rabbit model.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)190-195
Number of pages6
JournalExperimental Eye Research
Volume127
DOIs
StatePublished - Oct 2014

Keywords

  • Cross-linking
  • Myopia
  • Rabbit
  • Riboflavin
  • Sclera

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Scleral cross-linking using riboflavin and ultraviolet-A radiation for prevention of progressive myopia in a rabbit model'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this