Safety And Efficacy Of Customised Photorefractive Keratectomy Treatments Followed By Corneal Crosslinking In Patients With Keratoconus

With the evolution of keratoconus treatments, the integration of corneal crosslinking (CXL) has significantly curbed disease progression. Over time, more demand for good refractive outcome is expected by the patients. Simultaneous photorefractive keratectomy (PRK) and CXL have been shown to aid in visual rehabilitation. Postoperative refraction, visual acuity and patient satisfaction were evaluated in keratoconus patients following customised PRK and CXL.

Department of Ophthalmology, Goethe University, Frankfurt, Germany.

In this retrospective study, patients with keratoconus underwent customised PRK with subsequent crosslinking using the Athens protocol.

To date, the study includes three participants, with plans to expand the cohort to six until the Summer-Meeting, ensuring a minimum three-month follow-up period for each. Preoperative refraction ranged from +2.25 / -5.50 x 65° to -0.50 / -2.25 x 65°. Postoperative refraction ranged from 0 / -1.0 x 96° to -1.50 / -2.50 x 17°. Mean uncorrected and corrected visual acuity preoperatively ranged from 20/63 to 20/80 and 20/25 to 20/20 respectively. Postoperative visual acuity without correction ranged from 20/125 to 20/25. Visual acuity with correction had a range from 20/20 to 20/16. Patient satisfaction was high.

This preliminary study demonstrates that combined customised PRK with CXL yields positive refractive outcomes and high levels of patient satisfaction in treating keratoconus. Further research with a larger sample size is needed to confirm these results.