Corneal collagen cross-linking in pediatric patients with keratoconus

Introduction/Objective. The aim of this study was to report visual, refractive, and tomographic outcomes of corneal collagen cross-linking (CXL) in pediatric keratoconus. Methods. This retrospective study included 17 eyes of 12 patients with progressive keratoconus who underwent epithelium-off CXL at the age ≤ 18 years. Following data were analyzed at baseline and postoperatively at one, three, six, nine, 12 months for all the patients, and annually where available: uncorrected distant visual acuity (UDVA) and best spectacle-corrected distant visual acuity (CDVA), refraction and corneal tomography. Results. Mean UDVA improved significantly from 0.52 ± 0.38 at baseline to 0.24 ± 0.29 logarithm of minimum angle resolution (log MAR) at one year (p = 0.011) and remained stable at two-year follow-up (0.21 ± 0.34 log MAR). Mean CDVA was 0.15 ± 0.21 at baseline and 0.06 ± 0.13 log MAR at one year (p = 0.248). Maximum keratometry showed a significant flattening of 1.30 ± 1.99 D (p = 0.011) after a year and remained stable two years after CXL. Minimum keratometry significantly decreased with a mean change of 1.34 ± 1.37 (p = 0.001). Mean reduction of corneal thickness after CXL was 55.35 ± 64.42 μm (P=0.003). After a year, seven (42%) eyes showed Kmax regression, nine (53%) stabilization, and one (5%) progression. Conclusion. In our study CXL effectively prevented progression of keratoconus in 95% of pediatric patients after a year, while improving UDVA and keratometry values. One patient with eye rubbing behavior showed signs of keratoconus progression after CXL treatment.