[Corneal collagen cross-linking in the treatment of keratoconus--preliminary results].

PURPOSE: The aims of our study were to evaluate the effectiveness of riboflavin-ultraviolet type A (UV-A) induced corneal collagen cross-linking (CCCL) in reducing the progression of keratoconus and to assess the improvement of visual acuity in patients with progressive keratoconus.

MATERIAL AND METHOD: 32 eyes of 27 patients with progressive keratoconus were treated with combined riboflavin-UV-A rays CCCL. Postoperative examinations were performed at 1, 3, 6 and 12 months, including: uncorrected visual acuity (UCVA) and best spectacle-corrected visual acuity (BSCVA), refraction, keratometry, corneal topography slit-lamp examination and these were referred to the preoperative dates.

RESULTS

In all treated cases the progression of keratoconus was stopped. Comparative preoperative and postoperative results showed: increase of UCVA (p < 0.001), and BSCVA (p < 0.001), reduction of mean K (p < 0.001) and of the refractive errors--mean spherical equivalent (SE) (p < 0.001), mean cylinder values (Cyl) (p < 0.001).

CONCLUSIONS

CCCL is an effective treatment option for progressive keratoconus stages I, II and III. This simple procedure can stop the progression of keratectazia in keratoconus and helps to avoid or delay the need for penetrating keratoplasty.