Topical Losartan for Treating Corneal Haze After Ultraviolet-A/Riboflavin Collagen Cross-Linking

Abstract

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to report our first clinical experience using topical losartan for the treatment of severe corneal haze after epithelium-off corneal cross-linking (CXL). Methods: A 20-year-old man presented with clinically significant corneal haze in the right eye 1 month following Ultraviolet-A/Riboflavin Epithelium-off Collagen CXL. Haze progressed to a deep stromal scar, and vision was 20/150 with no improvement on refraction, 60 days after CXL. After unsuccessful treatment with topical corticosteroids, the patient elected to start off-label treatment with topical losartan 0.8 mg/mL, administered 6 times per day. Results: After 3 months of initiating topical losartan, the right eye vision improved to preoperative vision of 20/40-1. Corneal haze was significantly reduced as observed on slitlamp examination and on Scheimpflug corneal tomography (Pentacam; OCULUS, Inc. Arlington, WA). Conclusions: Topical losartan, a transforming growth factor-β inhibitor, is a potential treatment in clinically significant corneal haze following epithelium-off corneal CXL. This clinical experience highlights the potential efficacy of topical losartan as a novel therapeutic option in such cases, but further clinical studies are needed.