Corneal Cross-Linking for Pediatric Keratcoconus Review

Area of Science:

• Ophthalmology
• Pediatric eye care

Background:

• Keratoconus is a progressive eye condition affecting the cornea.
• Pediatric keratoconus management requires specific considerations due to growth and development.

Purpose of the Study:

• To conduct a comprehensive literature review on corneal cross-linking (CXL) in pediatric patients.
• To evaluate the efficacy and safety of CXL for pediatric keratoconus.

Main Methods:

• Systematic review of English-language publications.
• Literature search conducted using the PubMed database.

Main Results:

• A total of 210 publications were initially identified.
• 115 publications were deemed relevant for inclusion in the review.
• Existing studies are limited by small sample sizes and short follow-up durations.

Conclusions:

• Corneal cross-linking effectively halts keratoconus progression in pediatric patients.
• Early CXL treatment appears more cost-effective than later corneal transplantation.
• Long-term outcomes and potential regression rates of CXL in children warrant further research.