OUTCOMES OF CORNEAL CROSS-LINKING FOR PROGRESSIVE KERATOCONUS: A LONG-TERM STUDY

Abstract

Keratoconus is a progressive corneal ectatic disorder leading to corneal thinning and irregular astigmatism, significantly impairing vision. Corneal collagen cross-linking (CXL) has emerged as a crucial intervention to halt disease progression, but long-term outcomes, particularly beyond five years, remain critical for assessing its durability and efficacy. This abstract presents the long-term outcomes of epithelium-off CXL for progressive keratoconus, evaluating its effectiveness in stabilizing corneal ectasia and improving visual parameters. Our study, following Number-150 eyes of Number, 100 patients for up to Number, 10, years post-procedure, assessed changes in maximum keratometry (Kmax), uncorrected distance visual acuity (UDVA), best-corrected distance visual acuity (CDVA), spherical equivalent (SE), and central corneal thickness (CCT). Initial findings indicate a significant and sustained halt in keratoconus progression in Percentage, over 90% of treated eyes, evidenced by stable or decreased Kmax values. Furthermore, we observed statistically significant improvements in CDVA and a trend towards improved UDVA in a majority of eyes, suggesting a beneficial impact on visual function. While a transient reduction in CCT was noted initially, it largely stabilized over the long term. No serious long-term complications, such as infectious keratitis or significant endothelial cell loss, were reported. These long-term results underscore the robust efficacy and safety of CXL as a primary intervention for halting progressive keratoconus, offering durable corneal stability and contributing to sustained visual improvement for affected individuals.