Özet:

ABSTRACT PURPOSE: To evaluate the results of cornea collagen cross-linking (CXL) in the management of keratoconus (KC). PATIENTS AND METHODS: The data of 30 eyes of 23 patients who underwent CXL for the management of KC between May and October 2012 were reviewed retrospectively. Preoperative and postoperative first, third and sixth month uncorrected and best corrected visual acuities, corneal topographies by Pentacam, and corneal endothelial cell counts by specular microscopy were evaluated.  RESULTS: The median age of 12 male and 11 female patients was 18 (12-31). Uncorrected visual acuity was increased at 3 and 6 months of follow-up but the difference was not statistically significant (P =0.738). The best corrected visual acuity was decreased one month after the procedure and increased to the preoperative values at 3 and 6 months of follow up (P =0.528). Corneal densitometry value was increased significantly at 1, 3 and 6 months of follow up compared to the preoperative value (P <0.001, <0.001 and 0.028 respectively). The median corneal thickness at the thinnest location was decreased significantly at 1 month postoperatively (P <0.001) and then increased to the levels that was very close to the preoperative values. No significant difference was found in corneal endothelial cell count between preoperative and postoperative values (P =0.119). K1, K2, Kmax and Kapex values were increased slightly one month after CXL and then gradually decreased at 3 months and 6 months postoperatively but these differences did not reach statistical significance (P = 0.809, 0.408, 0.131, and 0.624, respectively). No significant change was found in corneal asphericity value (Q value, P =0.597). No complication and no signs of progression in KC were detected in any of the eyes. CONCLUSIONS: Our results are compatible with the studies in the literature. CXL is a cheap and safe method to halt the progression of KC. Although the number of cases and follow up time are limited, this study is valuable to show our clinical CXL application is safe, effective and compatible with previous reports.

Anahtar Kelimeler: