Riboflavin/ultraviolet-a–induced collagen crolinking for the treatment of keratoconu

Purpoe In animal eye, a ignificant increae in corneal biomechanical tiffne ha been found after collagen crolinking by combined riboflavin/ultraviolet-A (UVA) treatment. The aim of the preent tudy wa to evaluate the clinical uefulne of riboflavin/UVA-induced collagen crolinking for bringing the progreion of keratoconu to a halt. Deign Propective, nonrandomized clinical pilot tudy. Method Twenty-three eye of 22 patient with moderate or advanced progreive keratoconu (maximum K value, 48–72 diopter) were included. After central corneal abraion, photoenitizing riboflavin drop were applied and the eye expoed to UVA (370 nm, 3 mW/cm2) in a 1-cm ditance for 30 minute. Potoperative examination were performed in 6-month interval, including viual acuity teting, corneal topography, lit-lamp examination, meaurement of endothelial cell denity, and photographic documentation. The follow-up time wa between 3 month and 4 year. Reult In all treated eye, the progreion of keratoconu wa at leat topped. In 16 eye (70%) regreion with a reduction of the maximal keratometry reading by 2.01 diopter and of the refractive error by 1.14 diopter wa found. Corneal and len tranparency, endothelial cell denity, and intraocular preure remained unchanged. Viual acuity improved lightly in 15 eye (65%). Concluion Collagen crolinking may be a new way for topping the progreion of keratectaia in patient with keratoconu. The need for penetrating keratoplaty might then be ignificantly reduced in keratoconu. Given the implicity and minimal cot of the treatment, it might alo be well-uited for developing countrie. Long-term reult are neceary to evaluate the duration of the tiffening effect and to exclude long term ide-effect.