Simultaneous Topography-guided Custom Ablation With Corneal Cross-linking for Keratoconus: 10-Year Prospective Outcomes

Abstract

Purpose: To assess 10-year visual and tomographic outcomes of topography-guided custom ablation (T-CAT) with corneal cross-linking (CXL) in eyes with keratoconus. Methods: T-CAT with CXL was performed in 600 eyes (522 patients). Based on the T-CAT ablation plan, the theoretical maximum ablation depth was 50 µm after epithelium removal. After ablation, accelerated corneal cross-linking (CXL) was performed in the central 8-mm zone (9 mW/cm 2 for 10 minutes in “epi-off” mode). The visual acuity and tomography were assessed. Results: There was significant improvement in uncorrected ( P = .001) and corrected ( P = .001) distance visual acuity after the procedure. Keratometry, root mean square lower order aberrations and higher order aberrations, defocus, coma 90°, and spherical aberration reduced significantly after surgery at 10 years of follow-up ( P < .005). All Pentacam (Oculus Optikgerate GmbH) tomographic variables showed significant changes indicating regularization after T-CAT ( P < .005). Flattening of greater than 5.00 diopters in maximum keratometry was noted in 6 eyes (1%). Two of 600 eyes progressed postoperatively and required repeat CXL. Conclusions: T-CAT plus CXL is a safe and effective technique even in the long term for regularizing the anterior corneal surface with significant visual improvement and reduction in higher order corneal aberrations. [ J Refract Surg . 2023;39(11):759–766.]