Corneal collagen cross-linking with hypoosmolar riboflavin solution in keratoconic corneas

To report the 12-month outcomes of corneal collagen cross-linking (CXL) with a hypoosmolar riboflavin and ultraviolet-A (UVA) irradiation in thin corneas.

Eight eyes underwent CXL using a hypoosmolar riboflavin solution after epithelial removal. The corrected distance visual acuity (CDVA), manifest refraction, the mean thinnest corneal thickness (MTCT), and the endothelial cell density (ECD) were evaluated before and 6 and 12 months after CXL.

The MTCT was 413.9 ± 12.4 μm before treatment and reduced to 381.1 ± 7.3 μm after the removal of the epithelium. After CXL, the thickness decreased to 410.3 ± 14.5 μm at the last follow-up. Before treatment, the mean K-value of the apex of the keratoconus corneas was 58.7 ± 3.5 diopters and slightly decreased (57.7 ± 4.9 diopters) at 12 months. The mean CDVA was 0.54 ± 0.23 logarithm of the minimal angle of resolution before treatment and increased to 0.51 ± 0.21 logarithm at the last follow-up. The ECD was 2731.4 ± 191.8 cells/mm(2) before treatment and was 2733.4 ± 222.6 cells/mm(2) at 12 months after treatment.

CXL with a hypoosmolar riboflavin in thin corneas seems to be a promising method for keratoconic eyes with the mean thinnest corneal thickness less than 400 μm without epithelium.