[The effectiveness of corneal cross-linking in stopping the progression of keratoconus]

Objective of the study was to prove the efficiency of corneal cross-linking (CXL) in stopping the progression of keratoconus.

In this study were included 58 eyes of patients with progressive keratoconus who underwent CXL according to the Dresden protocol in the years 2007-2009 at the Ophthalmic clinic FN Brno Bohunice. The eyes of patients were divided into four groups according to the change of maximum curvature of the cornea two years after CXL.

Stabilization of maximum curvature of the cornea have been reported in 40 % of eyes, regression in 57 % of eyes by an average of 1,92D and disease progression in 3 % of eyes 2 years after CXL. The eyes with regression over 2D had significantly higher best-corrected visual acuity before and after the procedure compared to the group with stabilization. Spherical equivalent increased significantly in all groups, on average, in the group with stabilization of 0,54D, in the group with mild regression of 0,71D and in the group with a large regression of 2,09D. In the group with a large regression 100 % of eyes had stabilization or increase in SE. Our observations showed that, when a decrease in the patient keratometric values of cornea is present after CXL, it is comprehensive and applies to all parameters.

We have confirmed that corneal cross-linking stops the progression of the disease in 97 % of eyes two years after the procedure.