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Corneal stiffening technique may stop keratoconus

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DRESDEN, Germany — Collagen cross-linking may be useful in halting the progression of keratoconus, a study here indicates.

G. Wollensak and colleagues with the Universitäts-Augenklinik included 16 eyes of 15 patients with progressive keratoconus and moderate keratectasia of 48 D to 50 D.

After removal of the epithelium, the researchers applied a riboflavin solution to the cornea. The cornea was then irradiated for 30 minutes with UVA at 370 nm, 3mW/cm² at a distance of 1 cm. Patients were followed every 3 months for the first year and every 6 months out to 3 years. Keratectasia progression stopped in all patients; no negative side effects were reported.

Best corrected visual acuity and maximal keratometry values improved in roughly half of cases. Corneal transparency, the degree of keratectasia registered by corneal topography and the density of endothelial cells also remained unchanged in all patients during the follow-up period.

The study was published in Der Ophthalmologe.