Assessment of Corneal Higher Order Aberrations Before and After Corneal Collagen Cross-Linking in Patients with Keratoconus

Abstract

Purpose: This study aimed at assessing the shortterm effect of corneal collagen crosslinking on higher order aberrations of cornea in patients with keratoconus using corneal topography. Patients and Methods: The study was a prospective cohort study that was conducted in a private specialized eye hospital on 40 eyes of 28 keratoconus patients. Each patient was fully assessed preoperatively including doing corneal topography using Pentacam® HR. Transepithelial accelerated CXL was done to all patients. Postoperative corneal topography was done at six months and data was retrieved and analyzed. Results: RMS HOA recorded a higher mean value preoperatively, with a high statistically significant difference (p=0.00). All elements of HOAs showed lower postoperative values except for trefoil 30o. The difference was statistically significant in comma 0o, comma 90o, spherical aberrations and fifth order comma 90° (p=0.026, p= 0.003, p=0.005, and p=0.001 respectively). Conclusion: Transepithelial corneal collagen cross-linking improves corneal higher order aberrations. The maximum effect of the procedure is on comma 0o, comma 90o, spherical aberrations and fifth order comma 90° elements.