Efficacy of different accelerated corneal crosslinking protocols for progressive keratoconus

Abstract

PURPOSE: To evaluate the efficacy of different accelerated corneal crosslinking (CXL) treatment protocols in patients with progressive keratoconus. SETTING: Marmara University School of Medicine, Istanbul, Turkey. DESIGN: Retrospective case series. METHODS: ). RESULTS: ), and 27 eyes had 30 mW pulsed-light accelerated CXL. The uncorrected (UDVA) (P < .001 both) and corrected (CDVA) distance visual acuities increased in with conventional CXL and 9 mW accelerated CXL (P = .001 and P = .002, respectively). With 30 mW continuous accelerated CXL, only CDVA improved (P = .019). With 30 mW pulsed accelerated CXL, UDVA and CDVA did not change significantly (P > .05). With conventional CXL and 9 mW accelerated CXL, all keratometric (K) readings (K1, K2, mean K, maximum K) improved significantly (conventional CXL: P = .014, P = .002, P = .008, and P < .001, respectively; 9 mW accelerated CXL: all P < .001). With 30 mW, no K values changed significantly compared with baseline (all groups P > .05). CONCLUSION: Although 30 mW accelerated CXL treatment modalities appeared to be effective in stabilizing keratoconus progression, they seemed less effective in achieving topographic improvement.