CXL can slow, halt keratoconus progression in children

Accelerated corneal crosslinking in subjects with progressive keratoconus was shown to slow or halt the condition in patients 18 years or younger, according to a study in the European Journal of Ophthalmology.

Twenty-eight eyes from 19 patients with progressive keratoconus were enrolled and placed into two groups based on corneal thickness. Group 1 included 13 eyes of eight patients with corneal thickness of at least 450 µm, and group 2 included 15 eyes of 11 patients with corneal thickness less than 450 µm.

Participants underwent accelerated corneal crosslinking (CXL) using 10-minute ultraviolet A irradiance at 9 mW/cm² for a total energy dose of 5.4 J/cm².

Researchers assessed efficacy and safety postoperatively at 1, 3, 6 and 12 months.

Group 1 showed a statistically significant +0.12 logMAR improvement in uncorrected visual acuity (UCVA) at 3 months postoperatively, and group 2 showed a +0.3 logMAR improvement at 3 months postoperatively.

There was a +0.15 logMAR and +0.22 logMAR improvement in best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) in group 1 and group 2, respectively, at 12 months, according to the study.

UCVA and BCVA improved significantly in group 1 at 12 months postoperatively, according to researchers.

“Our study of the treatment of patients with advanced keratoconus thus attained its goal,” the researchers wrote, “for as preoperative levels indicate, all keratometric values and values of visual acuity in both groups remained stable or even improved after accelerated CXL.”

They concluded that keratometric values, such as K1 and K2, are important in diagnosis, staging and monitoring of the condition.

Young patients need longer follow-up periods, as keratoconus is more aggressive in the pediatric population, according to researchers. – by Abigail Sutton

Disclosure: The researchers reported no financial disclosures.

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Source:

Ulusoy DM, et al. Eur J Ophthalmol. 2016;doi:10.5301/eio.5000848.