Clinical Outcomes of Accelerated Corneal Cross-Linking for Pediatric Keratoconus

To assess the efficacy and safety of accelerated corneal cross-linking in the treatment of pediatric keratoconus.

In this retrospective case series, 29 eyes of 20 pediatric patients with keratoconus underwent accelerated corneal cross-linking. Treatment was delivered at 10 mW/cm² for 9 minutes with a total dose of 5.4 J/cm². Clinical evaluation included visual acuities and refractive and Scheimpflug corneal tomography assessments. All patients with a minimum follow-up duration of 24 months were included in the study.

Mean ± standard deviation age was 15.41 ± 2.13 years (range: 8 to 18 years). Uncorrected distance visual acuity improved significantly from 0.56 ± 0.28 to 0.42 ± 0.29 logMAR (P=0.0003), and corrected distance visual acuity improved significantly from 0.34 ± 0.23 to 0.28 ± 0.22 logMAR (P=0.014). The mean manifest refraction spherical equivalent value was significantly reduced (-0.59 ± 0.95 D, P=0.0024). While mean flat keratometry and steep keratometry values were not significantly altered (P > 0.05 for both), the mean maximum keratometry value was significantly decreased from 56.97 ± 5.24 D preoperatively to 55.84 ± 5.37 D at 24 months postoperatively (P=0.003). Maximum keratometry had progressed by >1 D in two eyes (6.89%). Permanent corneal haze was reported in one case (3.44%).

Our 24-month follow-up demonstrated that accelerated corneal cross-linking appears to halt the progression of keratoconus in pediatric patients without apparent complications. Uncorrected and corrected distance visual acuities were also improved.