Transepithelial accelerated corneal crosslinking for keratoconus eyes with maximum keratometry values larger than 58 diopters

To evaluate the safety and efficacy of transepithelial accelerated corneal crosslinking (CXL) for advanced keratoconus eyes with maximum keratometry (Kmax) values58 diopters (D).Department of Ophthalmology, Eye and ENT Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China.Prospective parallel control study.41 keratoconus eyes from 41 patients (mean age, 21.93 ± 5.48 years) who underwent transepithelial accelerated CXL were included prospectively. The enrolled eyes were divided into 2 groups according to their Kmax values (Group A, Kmax ≥58.0 D; Group B, Kmax58.0 D). The examinations including assessment of uncorrected distance visual acuity (UDVA), corrected distance visual acuity (CDVA), corneal topography, and corneal endothelial cell density count were conducted preoperatively, at 1 day, 1 month, 3 months, 6 months, and 1 year postoperatively.All 41 eyes finished 1 year follow-up. No statistical difference was noted between the mean UDVA and CDVA in both groups throughout the follow-up duration. At 1-year postoperative follow-up, the CDVA increased by ≥2 lines in 45% (9/20) and 28.6% (6/21) eyes in Groups A and B, respectively. The mean preoperative Kmax in Groups A and B were 62.51 ± 3.34 D and 49.98 ± 4.32 D, respectively, and that at postoperative 1-year follow-up were 61.94 ± 4.11 D and 50.24 ± 4.72 D, respectively. The Kmax values of 30% (6/20) eyes in Group A and 4.8% (1/21) eyes in Group B decreased by more than 1 D. Deduction of flat K, steep K, mean K, and Kmax showed no significant difference between the 2 groups at 1-year postoperative follow-up. Moreover, 20% (4/20) and 23.8% (5/21) of eyes in Groups A and B, respectively, showed progress at postoperative 1-year follow-up.Transepithelial accelerated CXL can safely treat advanced keratoconus eyes with Kmax values ≥58.0 D with some extent of efficacy and has similar progressive rate as Kmax values58.0 D.