Two-year accelerated corneal cross-linking outcome in patients with progressive keratoconus

To evaluate the long-term results of accelerated corneal cross-linking (CXL) in patients with progressive keratoconus.

Sixteen patients underwent accelerated CXL at 6 mW/cm(2) for 15 minutes in one eye. The follow-up visits were scheduled on 7 days, 14 days, and 3, 12, and 24 months after the treatment.

There were no significant differences (P > 0.05) between preoperative and 2-year postoperative mean values, respectively, in terms of uncorrected visual acuity, best spectacle-corrected visual acuity, maximum keratometry K max⁡, minimum keratometry K min⁡, corneal astigmatism, and corneal eccentricity index. We noted a significant flattening of the cornea in 18.7% of patients with a higher preoperative K max⁡ value (>50 D) and its steepening in patients with a lower K max⁡ value (<50 D) (6.25%). There was no significant difference in the central corneal thickness and the apical corneal thickness preoperatively and 2 years postoperatively. The mean demarcation line depth was 282 ± 11 μm. Persistent corneal haze was noted in 25% of patients.

Accelerated CXL appears to be a relatively effective procedure for the treatment of keratoconus in 2-year follow-up.