Accelerated Epithelium-Off Corneal Collagen Cross-Linking For Keratoconus: 12-Month Results

Area of Science:

• Ophthalmology
• Corneal Surgery
• Vision Science

Background:

• Keratoconus is a progressive corneal ectasia leading to vision impairment.
• Accelerated corneal cross-linking (CXL) is a treatment option to halt keratoconus progression.
• Standard CXL protocols require longer treatment times, making accelerated CXL a more patient-friendly alternative.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the 12-month visual, refractive, topographic, and aberrometric outcomes of accelerated CXL in keratoconus patients.
• To identify key parameters for monitoring treatment efficacy in follow-up assessments.
• To report on the safety and effectiveness of accelerated CXL for keratoconus management.

Main Methods:

• A prospective, interventional, non-randomized case series involving 40 eyes of 40 keratoconus patients.
• Preoperative and 12-month postoperative examinations included visual acuity, refractive error, keratometry, keratoconus indices, and corneal higher-order aberrations (HOAs).
• Statistical analysis was performed to assess changes in measured parameters post-accelerated CXL.

Main Results:

• Significant improvements were observed in uncorrected visual acuity (UCVA) and best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) at 12 months.
• Mean keratometric values (K1, K2, Kmax) decreased significantly post-CXL.
• Corneal higher-order aberrations, including vertical coma, spherical aberrations, and trefoil, showed significant reductions.

Conclusions:

• Accelerated CXL demonstrates efficacy in improving visual and refractive outcomes in keratoconus patients.
• Corneal topographic indices (ISV, IVA, KI) and HOAs provide valuable insights for monitoring treatment response.
• Accelerated CXL is a viable and effective treatment for managing keratoconus progression.