Short-term Outcomes of Collagen Crosslinking for Early Keratoconus

PURPOSE: To assess the efficacy of collagen crosslinking with riboflavin and ultraviolet A (UVA) radiation for treatment of early keratoconus. METHODS: Thirty-one eyes of 22 patients with early keratoconus were included in this study. All patients underwent slit lamp examination and assessment of uncorrected visual acuity (UCVA), best spectacle-corrected visual acuity (BSCVA), intraocular pressure, corneal topography and pachymetry. Collagen crosslinking was performed without epithelial removal. Riboflavin was applied to the cornea every 3 minutes 30 minutes before UVA irradiation and every 5 minutes thereafter. Patients were re-assessed 1, 3, and 6 months after treatment. RESULTS: Postoperatively, UCVA increased by 2 Snellen lines and BSCVA was improved by 1.7 Snellen lines (P < 0.001). Spherical equivalent refractive error was reduced by 0.55 D, and maximum and mean K values were decreased by 0.65 D and 0.51 D respectively (P < 0.05 for all comparisons). Evidence of regression was present in 71% of treated eyes. CONCLUSION: Collagen crosslinking demonstrated significant improvement in vision with reduction in corneal power and spherical equivalent refractive error in eyes with early keratoconus.