A novel combination treatment offers promise for corneal vessel regression and longer graft survival – Study by UKK

In May 2024, the Restore Vision team participated in the annual meeting of The Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology (ARVO) in Seattle, United States. At this prestigious event, Meert Mestanoglu from our partner institution University of Cologne presented key findings from their ongoing research on the project via a poster. Below is a summary of the study results shared during the conference. To view and download the full poster, visit our resources page.

A novel combination treatment offers promise for corneal vessel regression and longer graft survival – Study by UKK

The cornea, often referred to as the “transparent window” of the eye, is essential for clear vision. Yet, this vital tissue can be compromised when blood and lymphatic vessels grow in it – a condition called corneal vascularization which is often triggered by chemical injuries, infections, or rare eye diseases. This unwanted vessel growth can cloud vision, leading to significant visual impairment or even blindness. Moreover, the presence of these vessels poses a serious challenge for corneal transplants, as they heighten the risk of graft rejection, making these critical surgeries more likely to fail.

Currently, there are no effective treatments to prevent corneal vascularization. However, methods like fine needle diathermy (FND) which uses heat to cauterize (“seal”) the vessels, and corneal crosslinking (CXL), a new laser treatment for corneal diseases, have previously shown promising results in reducing corneal vessels.

In a recent study, Restore Vision’s team investigated whether combining these two methods (FND and CXL) combined could induce blood and lymphatic vessel regression and extend the survival of the corneal transplant tissue.

Researchers treated patients with vascularized corneas using a combination of FND and CXL at the time of corneal transplantation. They examined images of the eyes before and after the surgery to see how well the treatments worked and kept track of any problems or signs that the transplant might be rejected by the patients.

Researchers found out that the novel treatment combination using vessel cauterization and corneal crosslinking led to the regression of more than half of the corneal vessels. There were also no complications during surgery, but some patients experienced slower wound healing in the early recovery period, which required an additional producedure involving amniotic membrane transplantation.

This pilot study shows that combining FND and CXL treatment during corneal transplantation is effective in reducing corneal neovascularization (abnormal growth of blood vessels into the cornea). However, corneal healing the early recovery period may be slower in some cases, therefore close monitoring is recommended. While the results are promising, the study’s small patient sample size is a limitation. Studies with larger groups of patients are needed to fully assess the effectiveness of the combined FND and CXL treatment for reducing blood vessels before corneal transplantation and improving graft survival.

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