Study: Vision improved or stabilized 1 year after cross-linking

J Cataract Refract Surg. 2011;37(12):2137-2143.

Corneal collagen cross-linking proved effective in stabilizing or improving visual acuity in eyes with keratoconus at 1 year, a study found.

"This study joins other series showing that collagen [cross-linking] is an effective and safe procedure," the study authors said. "However, a large prospective randomized clinical trial is needed, aided by large follow-up numbers."

The retrospective study included 142 eyes of 142 patients with progressive keratoconus that underwent corneal collagen cross-linking with ultraviolet light and riboflavin. Mean patient age was 24.12 years.

Mean follow-up was 10 months. The 6-month examination included 104 eyes, and the 12-month exam included 64 eyes. Some patients withdrew from the study because of a perceived reduction in keratoconus symptoms.

Study results showed that corrected distance visual acuity stabilized in 53 eyes (48.1%), improved in 36 eyes (32.7%) and decreased in 18 eyes (16.3%). Corrected distance visual acuity stabilized in 31 eyes (47.6%), improved in 26 eyes (40%) and decreased in eight eyes (12%) at 12 months.

Uncorrected distance visual acuity improved significantly at 6 months (P = .01) but not at 12 months. Corrected distance visual acuity improved significantly at 6 months (P = .01) and 12 months (P = .045).

Mean reduction in keratometry values was statistically significant at 6 months (P = .001) and 12 months (P = .045).

Progression of keratoconus was halted in 51 eyes (49.03%) at 6 months and in 42 eyes (68.8%) at 12 months.

Complications with loss of vision occurred in 3.5% of eyes, the researchers said.