LONG-TERM results of crosslinking therapy in keratoconus patients

Introduction and Aim: Keratoconus; It is a degenerative, non-inflammatory disease in which the anterior inclination of the cornea increases and becomes thinner and presents with severe visual impairment especially in the young population. Recently, with the innovations and studies in technology, corneal collagen crosslinking method or collagen crosslinking (CCL) treatment is now frequently used in the treatment of the disease. The aim of our study is to evaluate the effectiveness of the collagen cross-linking method with follow-ups in our clinic for 3 years. In keratoconus patients, we aimed to compare these two procedures based on the changes in the anterior segment parameters of epi off CXL and epi on CXL. Materials and Methods: A total of 290 eyes of 201 patients were included in the study. The mean age of the cases was 21.34±5.77 (min-max: 3-44) years. 119 male patients (59.2%) and 82 female patients (40.8%) were included in the study. 269 ​​eyes (92.8%) were operated with epi off and 21 eyes (7.2%) with epi on. Results: There was no significant difference in the UDVA, CDVA and cylindrical diopter power values ​​of the patients who underwent Epi off CXL during the follow-up (p=0.572, p=0.246, (p=0.890).The MRSE and ACA values ​​show a significant increase compared to the preoperative values( p<0.001). Specular (p<0.001), CCT(p<0.001), CV(p<0.001), ACV(p<0.001), ACD(p<0.001),MAE(p<0.001),MPE(p) A significant decrease was observed in the values ​​of <0.001), K1 (p<0.001), K2 (p<0.001), KM (p<0.001) compared to baseline.In those who underwent Epi on CXL, the patients' UDVA (p=0.535), CDVA (p=0.683) , cylindrical dioptric power(p=0.282), MRSE(p=0.424), CV(p=0.071), ACD(p=0.155) MAE(p=0.095),MPE(p=0.695),K1(p=0.243) No significant difference was observed in ,K2 (p=091), KM (p=0.176) values ​​during follow-up. It shows a significant increase in ACA value [Buraya yazın] 67 compared to preoperative values ​​(p=0.003). Specular (p<0.001), CCT (p<0.001 ), a significant decrease was observed in ACV(p=0.009) values ​​compared to baseline. Conclusion: It was determined that both epi off and epi method stopped the progression in keratoconus after three years of follow-up.