Conventional versus accelerated corneal collagen cross-linking in cases of progressive keratoconus

Abstract

Background Keratoconus is mainly a noninflammatory, bilateral corneal disease, which changes stability and refractive intensity. Aim Studying the visual acuity, refraction, and keratometric data of keratoconic patients who underwent either standard or accelerated cross-linking at 6-month duration. Patients and methods A randomized, comparative study with 60 eyes of 30 keratoconus patients. The study participants were categorized into two groups: A and B. Patients in group A underwent epi off conventional corneal crosslinking according to The Dresden’s protocol (3 mW/cm2 for 30 min), while patients in group B underwent epi off accelerated corneal crosslinking (30 mW/cm2 for only 3 min). Preoperative and postoperative outcomes were evaluated and then compared. Results The conventional corneal crosslinking group showed more improvement than the accelerated corneal crosslinking group in postoperative uncorrected distant visual acuity and corrected distant visual acuity at 6 months of follow-up. The two groups were similar in terms of spherical equivalent and manifest refraction. No significant change in K1 and K2 in the both groups from preoperative at 6 months. The same results were found for 6 months of f/up of corneal topography as well as central corneal thickness (CCT) and thinnest location of cornea thickness. Conclusions The study has increased the proof on the power of conventional corneal crosslinking in comparison with accelerated corneal crosslinking at 6 months of follow up.