[Wavefront changes after local cross-linking for keratoconus]

This study aimed to analyze the dynamics of corneal wavefront aberration changes after local corneal cross-linking and assess their impact on visual acuity in patients with keratoconus.

The study group included 22 patients (37 eyes) aged 17 to 36 years with stage I-III keratoconus. All patients underwent local corneal cross-linking according to the Dresden protocol. The follow-up period was 12 months. In addition to standard ophthalmological examinations, specialized diagnostics were performed using the topographers-aberrometers Orbscan III, Sirius, and the optical coherence tomograph Revo. Higher-order aberrations were analyzed preoperatively and at 1, 6, and 12 months postoperatively. Corneal morphology parameters were also assessed at the same time points.

At 1 month postoperatively, there was a slight increase in higher-order aberrations compared to baseline. However, by the 6th month, higher-order aberrations began to decrease, reaching their lowest levels by month 12. The improvement in best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) correlated with the reduction in higher-order aberrations: following a slight decline during the first month, BCVA began to improve by month 6 and peaked by the end of the follow-up period, increasing by 35% (t>2.0; p<0.05) compared with the preoperative level.

Local cross-linking has a positive effect on higher-order aberrations. The reduction in higher-order aberrations correlates with improved visual acuity after local crosslinking.