[A new treatment of keratectasia after LASIK by using collagen with riboflavin/UVA light cross-linking].

Background: Keratectasia is one of the most severe complications after refractive laser surgery. Usually penetrating keratoplasty is the treatment of choice to achieve an optical rehabilitation in such cases. Patients andMethods: We report on a female patient who developed keratectasia in both eyes 4 weeks after LASIK. Due to a severe keratectasia 10 months after LASIK, a treatment with riboflavin/UVA cross-linking was performed. Results: Due to the induced collagen cross-linking the biomechanical status of the cornea was stabilized and a progression of the keratectasia was prevented. The postoperative refraction and corneal topography have been stable for 18 months. Conclusion: Collagen cross-linking leads to a stiffening of the anterior parts of the corneal stroma. The increase of biomechanical stability can stop the progression of a keratectasia after LASIK by means of a simple procedure.