Long-term visual, refractive, tomographic and aberrometric outcomes of corneal collagen crosslinking (CXL) with or without hypoosmolar riboflavin solution in the treatment of progressive keratoconus patients with thin corneas.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the long-term visual, refractive, tomographic, and aberrometric outcomes of corneal collagen crosslinking (CXL) with or without hypoosmolar riboflavin solution in the treatment of progressive keratoconus patients with thin corneas.

METHODS

Charts of consecutive progressive keratoconus patients with thinnest corneal thickness less than 470 µm who underwent corneal collagen CXL with or without hypoosmolar riboflavin solution and using a standardized protocol for treatment and examinations were analyzed retrospectively. The indication for hypoosmolar riboflavin use was a central corneal thickness less than 400 µm as measured by ultrasound pachymetry after epithelial debridement and before exposure to ultraviolet A (UVA) light. Uncorrected distance visual acuity (UDVA), best spectacle-corrected distance visual acuity (CDVA), manifest refraction, slit lamp biomicroscopy, corneal tomography, corneal aberrometry, and endothelial cell counts were evaluated at baseline and yearly at all postoperative follow-up examinations until month 36. The outcomes of corneal CXL procedure performed using hypoosmolar riboflavin were compared to those performed using the standard procedure.

RESULTS

Twenty-three eyes (19 patients) were treated using hypoosmolar riboflavin application, and 30 eyes (28 patients) were treated using the standard procedure. Compared to baseline, the mean UDVA, CDVA, and keratometric readings improved statistically significantly in both groups at postoperative year 3, without any statistically significant between-group differences. Progression was not observed in any patient eye in either group. No significant endothelial cell loss and no sight threating complication were observed in any patient eye.

CONCLUSION

At 3 years follow-up, the safety and efficacy of CXL using hypoosmolar riboflavin solution seems to be similar to that of standard CXL in progressive keratoconic eyes with thin corneas. The visual, refractive, keratometric, tomographic and aberrometric outcomes of the two procedures were comparable, as well.