First Author: W.Abou Samra EGYPT
Co Author(s):
Purpose:
To evaluate 1 year outcomes of stability, visual outcome and safety after riboflavin-UVA-induced cross-linking in a population of patients younger than 18 years with progressive keratoconus. Moreover subjective visual functions were analyzed.
Setting:
: Mansoura Ophthalmic Center, Mansoura University, Egypt.
Methods:
A prospective non-randomized study was conducted. It involved 55 patients aged 18 years or younger (10-18 years) with clinical and instrumental evidence of keratoconus progression. The riboflavin-UVA-induced corneal cross-linking was performed in all patients according to the standard epi-off protocol. Parameters recorded preoperatively and postoperatively (at 1, 3, 6, and 12 months) included uncorrected visual acuity, best spectacle-corrected visual acuity, contrast sensitivity, corneal topography, optical pachometry and endothelial cell analysis.
Patients completed a subjective questionnaire regarding visual symptoms administered preoperatively and 1 year after CXL. Patients ranked self-reported symptoms of photophobia, difficulty reading, diplopia, glare, halo, dryness, pain, and foreign-body sensation on a scale from 1 to 5. The results were analyzed.
Results:
Functional data at 12 months showed an increase of uncorrected visual acuity and best spectacle-corrected visual acuity, Topographic results showed statistically significant improvement in K readings and asymmetry index values. Astigmatic values were also reduced significantly. No statistically significant differences were found between preoperative and postoperative endothelial cell counts or morphology. The improvements in visual acuity, keratometry readings, and spherical equivalent values occurred progressively during the follow-up period. Subjective improvement in visual symptoms like difficulty reading, glare, halo, dryness, pain and foreign-body sensation was also noted.
Conclusions:
CXL procedure is a safe treatment in pediatric patients younger than 18 years with progressive keratoconus. In pediatric age, a good functional response and keratoconus stability was obtained after corneal cross-linking in a 12-month follow-up. Patients noted subjective improvement in visual symptoms, which corroborate quantitative clinical improvements seen after CXL.
Financial Disclosure:
None
