Efficacy of transepithelial corneal collagen crosslinking for keratoconus: 12-month follow-up

PURPOSE: To evaluate the efficacy of transepithelial corneal collagen crosslinking (TE-CXL) in patients with progressive keratoconus. PATIENTS AND METHODS: This is a prospective interventional consecutive study carried out on 30 eyes of 18 patients with progressive keratoconus who underwent TE-CLX using both ParaCel™ (riboflavin 0.25%, hydroxy propyl methyl cellulose, NaCl, ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid [EDTA], Tris, and benzalkonium chloride) and vibeX-Xtra (riboflavin 0.22%, phosphate-buffered saline solution). The procedure was carried out at Ebsar Eye Center in Egypt in the period from 2012 to 2014. The follow-up visits were scheduled on days 1, 3, 6, and 12 months after treatment. RESULTS: There were statistically significant improvements (P<0.001) in the mean best-corrected visual acuity (0.54±0.22 preoperatively vs 0.61±0.19 at 12 months postoperatively), the mean manifest refraction spherical equivalent (MRSE; −6.16±3.90 diopters [D] preoperatively and −5.91±3.72 D at 12 months postoperatively), and the mean preoperative corneal astigmatism (−3.39±2.11 D preoperatively and −2.46±2.60 D at 12 months postoperatively). CONCLUSION: TE-CXL could halt the progression of keratoconus in adult patients. TE-CXL resulted in a statistically significant improvement in best-corrected visual acuity, manifest refraction, refractive and corneal astigmatism and K values in keratoconus patients at the 12-month follow-up. Larger sample sizes and longer follow-ups are required in order to make meaningful conclusions.