This article is more than 5 years old. Information may no longer be current.
Cross-linking reduces steepening, halts progression of keratoconus up to 5 years
Corneal collagen cross-linking safely halted the progression of keratoconus for up to 5 years and prevented the need for keratoplasty, according to a study.
The prospective analysis included 40 eyes of 32 patients with progressive keratoconus and a mean age of 22.45 years.
Main outcome measures were logMAR uncorrected visual acuity (UCVA), best corrected visual acuity (BCVA), manifest refraction spherical equivalent (MRSE), maximum keratometry (max-K), average of minimum and maximum keratometry (mean-K), central corneal thickness (CCT) and anterior and posterior elevation.
Mean UCVA was 0.67 at baseline and 0.65 at 5-year follow-up; the gain was statistically insignificant. Mean BCVA improved significantly, from 0.31 to 0.19 (P = .016).
Mean MRSE improved significantly at 6 months (P = .050) and 1 year (P = .027). However, the 12.89% decrease in MRSE at 5 years was insignificant.
Mean max-K decreased by 0.24 D and mean-K decreased by 0.11 D; both changes were insignificant.
Mean anterior elevation at the apex decreased significantly (P = .030).
Mean CCT increased insignificantly, from 483.87 μm to 485.95 μm.
Disclosure: The study authors report no relevant financial disclosures.