Trans-epithelial accelerated corneal cross-linking for keratoconus in children

The aim of the study is to evaluate the safety and efficacy of trans-epithelial accelerated corneal cross-linking (TE-ACXL) in children with progressive keratoconus. Retrospective, case-series of 23 eyes of 14 children who underwent TE-ACXL. Evaluations were performed at baseline and 1, 3, 6, 12 and 18mo postoperatively. Mean follow-up time of 23.82±3.15mo and mean age was 13.7±1.4y (range 11 to 16y). Mean preoperative uncorrected distance visual acuity changed from 0.92±0.45 logMAR (20/160) to 0.71±0.40 logMAR (20/100) (P=0.001). Mean keratometry (Km) changed from 53.87± 6.03 to 53.00±5.81 (P=0.001). Pachymetry did not have significant changes at last follow-up (P=0.30). The mean preoperative sphere was -5.58±2.48 and -4.89±4.66 D (P=0.11) at last follow-up; refractive cylinder from -5.58±2.48 to -5.02±2.23 (P=0.046). In conclusion, tomographic and refractive stability are shown in over 91% of eyes with pediatric progressive keratoconus who underwent TE-ACXL.