Pediatric versus Adult Corneal Collagen Crosslinking: Long-term Visual, Refractive, Tomographic and Aberrometric Outcomes.

PURPOSE: To comparatively evaluate the long-term visual, refractive, topographic and aberrometric outcomes of conventional corneal collagen crosslinking (CXL) in the management of pediatric versus adult progressive keratoconus patients.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: Retrospective, cross-sectional review of consecutive progressive keratoconus cases of corneal standard CXL using a standardized protocol for treatment and examinations was performed. 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 after month-12. The outcomes were analyzed by dividing the patients into 2 age groups; pediatric (≤18 years) versus adult (>18 years).

RESULTS: Eighty-eight eyes (54 patients) in the pediatric and 104 eyes (68 patients) in the adult age groups completed 3 years follow-up. Compared to baseline, the mean CDVA, manifest refraction, keratometric readings, tomographic and aberrometric parameters improved statistically significantly in both groups at postoperative year-3 and year-4, without any statistically significant between-group differences. No change in the mean endothelial cell density (p > .05), or no sight threating complication was encountered in any patient eye in either group. In a subset of patients who were followed for 4 years (71 eyes in the pediatric and 70 eyes in the adult age groups), the outcome analyses were again similar between-groups.

CONCLUSION: Conventional corneal CXL effectively halts the progression of keratoconus in both pediatric and adult age groups in long-term follow-up with similar visual, refractive, tomographic and aberrometric efficacy in both groups.