Keratometry Changes Between Year Seven and Twelve After Corneal Crosslinking in Patients with Keratoconus

TL;DR

This study examines how corneal shape changes up to 12 years after a treatment for keratoconus, finding that most improvements stabilize after 7 years but rare cases may still progress.

Contribution

The study provides long-term data on keratometric stability after corneal crosslinking, showing rare late progression in keratoconus.

Findings

Keratometric parameters like Kmax and anterior astigmatism improved significantly 7 years after CXL and remained stable until year 12.

Two patients (4.3%) showed suspected disease progression between years 7 and 12 post-CXL.

Best-corrected visual acuity improved significantly at year 7 and remained stable until year 12.

Abstract

Background/Objectives: To evaluate the timing and extent to which late keratometric changes can occur between year 7 and 12 after corneal collagen crosslinking (CXL) in patients with keratoconus. Methods: A subgroup of a retrospective cohort study of all consecutive patients who underwent CXL at our cornea center between 2007 and 2011 was analyzed. The inclusion criteria consisted of CXL according to the Dresden protocol and a full set of keratometry parameters collected by Scheimpflug tomography preoperatively and at year 7, 9 and 12 after CXL. Results: A total of 46 eyes of 35 patients were included. The most relevant keratometric parameters (Kmax, TCT, K1, K2 and anterior astigmatism) decreased statistically significantly at year 7 after CXL, while there was no relevant difference for posterior astigmatism and the flat axes of anterior and posterior astigmatism. All keratometric parameters (except for K2) remained stable between year 7 and 12 without statistically significant change, according to mixed effect model regression analysis. BCVA improved statistically significant between the baseline and year 7 and remained stable until year 12. Suspected disease progression was noted in two patients (4.3%) between year 7, 9 and 12 post-CXL. Conclusions: Keratometric and functional results improve significantly 7 years after CXL in comparison to preoperative values and show very effective stabilization without clinically relevant changes up to year 12. However, while the risk of disease progression decreases remarkably after 7 years, in rare cases, suspected progression can occur even up to year 12. Therefore, regular control visits with keratometry measurements are advisable at least every 2 to 3 years in the late postoperative course.

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