Corneal cross-linking in patients with radial keratotomy: short-term follow-up

To record visual and refractive data in eyes with previous radial keratotomy (RK) and corneal instability undergoing corneal cross-linking (CXL).

Case series of eyes with RK and refractive instability undergoing CXL with riboflavin and UV-A radiation. The following variables were recorded before 3 and 6 months after CXL: sphere, spherical equivalent (SE), uncorrected visual acuity (UCVA), best spectacle-corrected visual acuity (BSCVA), topographic astigmatism, mean topographic K (Km), pachymetry, and Q values.

Seven eyes of 4 patients with pre-CXL variables included mean sphere [-0.7 ± 3.2 diopters (D)], astigmatism (2.5 ± 1.17 D), SE (-2.1 ± 3.1 D), UCVA (0.3 ± 2.0), BSCVA (0.63 ± 0.36), Km (38.75 ± 5.74 D), pachymetry (522 ± 36.8 μm), and Q (1.73 ± 1.34). Three months after CXL, mean sphere was +1.0 ± 3.0 D (P = 0.00); astigmatism, 2.5 ± 1.2 D (P = 0.95); SE, 0.3 ± 2.2 D (P = 0.008); UCVA, 0.41 ± 2.7 (P = 0.22); BSCVA, 0.80 ± 0.27 (P = 0.14); Km, 37.5 ± 5.7 D (P = 0.3); pachymetry, 491 ± 33.74 μm (P = 0.00); and Q, 2.27 ± 1.8 (P = 0.22). Six months after CXL, mean sphere was 0.53 ± 3.5 D (P = 0.00); astigmatism, 1.62 ± 1.76 D (P = 0.13); SE, 0.52 ± 2.9 D (P = 0.023); UCVA, 0.60 ± 2.0 (P = 0.018); BSCVA, 0.9 ± 0.15 (P = 0.03); Km, 38.3 ± 4.10 D (P = 0.64); and Q, 1.7 ± 0.78 (P = 0.80).

Short-term follow-up of RK patients treated with CXL showed clinical and statistically significant improvement.