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Centrally enhanced accelerated corneal cross-linking for progressive keratoconus.

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First Author: G.Kontadakis UK

Co Author(s):    D. Liakopoulos   D. Singhal   I. Pallikaris              

Abstract Details

Purpose:

To compare the efficacy of standard corneal cross-linking (CXL) with a modified accelerated CXL protocol with central fluence enhancement (M-CXL).

Setting:

Laboratory of Vision and optics, University of Crete

Methods:

In this prospective, comparative, interventional case series of patients with progressive keratoconus, 10 eyes underwent standard CXL and 10 eyes, matched for age and keratoconus stage, underwent modified CXL: 5-minute treatment with irradiance 18 mW/cm2 at 8mm diameter, plus 1 minute with 30mW/cm2 at 4 mm diameter centered on the visual axis.

Results:

At 6 months postoperatively, uncorrected distance visual acuity remained stable in both groups. Corrected distance visual acuity (CDVA) had a significant improvement only in the M-CXL group (p=0.048). Two eyes in the CXL group and 7 in the M-CXL group showed flattening of more than 1 diopter in maximum keratometry (p=0.069, Fisher exact test). Refraction and astigmatism improvement did not reach statistical significance in both groups. No adverse events were observed.

Conclusions:

This modified centrally enhanced CXL protocol seems to be as safe as standard CXL, with a more potent effect on improvement of keratometry and CDVA.

Financial Disclosure:

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