Posters

Outcomes of corneal cross-linking in young children with keratoconus

Poster Details

First Author: S.Hamada UK

Co Author(s):                        

Abstract Details

Purpose:

Keratoconus in younger children is generally an aggressive and rapidly progressive disease, leading to irregular astigmatism and impairment in visual function. There have been some studies that have used corneal collagen cross-linking (CXL) in the management of young patients with progressive keratoconus and found it to be effective. But in our work, we describe outcomes in younger age group less than 14 years of age.

Setting:

Corneo-Plastic Unit, Queen Victoria Hospital, East Grinstead, UK

Methods:

a retrospective study of 32 eyes of 26 patients who underwent accelerated Epithelium off corneal cross linking. The inclusion criteria for the study were eyes with progressive keratoconus documented by serial topography for at least six months, corneal thickness > 370 microns at the thinnest location, and children in the age group of 8–14 years. All patients underwent a detailed ophthalmic examination including assessment of the uncorrected distant visual acuity (UDVA) and corrected distant visual acuity (CDVA), slit lamp, specular microscopy, and dilated fundus examination at pre-op visit and at 1, 3,6, and 12 months. All complications were recorded.

Results:

80% of patients were make. 12 eyes completed 36 months follow up but all eyes have a minimum of one year follow up. UCDA and BDVA improved in all cases including those were the disease continued to progress. 6 eyes needed repeated corneal crosslinking in the first year giving a failure rate of 18.75% in this young children group. We did not find a correlation between disease severity and risk of failure. No complications were seen.

Conclusions:

Very few studies have been published about the effectiveness of CXL in the younger age group. It can potentially prevent amblyopia, improve the fit of contact lenses, and deter an early penetrating keratoplasty.

Financial Disclosure:

None