Keratoconus is the most common ectatic corneal disease, traditionally considered a non-inflammatory condition. It is characterized by progressive thinning of the cornea, leading to irregular astigmatism and reduced visual acuity. Over time, the cornea deforms, transitioning from a dome-shaped structure to a cone-shaped one. The disease has a high prevalence; however, its cellular-level etiology remains incompletely understood. One of the effective methods for slowing disease progression is corneal collagen cross-linking (CXL) using riboflavin and ultraviolet light.
We conducted a retrospective study including patients who were monitored over a five-year period following the procedure, specifically between 2019 and 2024. Data were collected at the Eye Clinic in the Contact Lens Outpatient Department of the University Medical Centre Ljubljana. Key ophtalmological parameters were assessed, including corneal pachymetry, maximum corneal curvature, posterior and anterior elevation, visual acuity with and without correction, and the ABCD classification.
The CXL method has been shown to be clinically effective in stabilizing or halting the progression of keratoconus. Statistically significant changes were observed in most of the analyzed ophtalmological parameters. After the procedure, we noted stabilization of corneal thickness (pachymetry) following an initial thinning phase, a significant reduction in the maximum anterior corneal curvature (Kmax), a decrease in anterior and posterior elevation and an improvement in uncorrected visual acuity (UCVA). The results of the ABCD classification also indicated disease stabilization without statistically significant changes during the follow-up period. This represents a key finding for the clinical management of patients with keratoconus. Despite the limitations associated with the retrospective nature of the study and the small sample size, our findings provide important confirmation of the clinical effectiveness of the CXL method. Based on the results, we conclude the CXL is an effective and clinically relevant treatment for patients with keratoconus.
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