Table 1.
Summary of studies using cross-linking alone or combined with other techniques for the treatment of keratoconus.
| Authors | Country | Design (eyes) | Follow-up (m) | Results |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Caporossi et al (2006)41 | Italy | Case series (10) | 3 | Kmax decreased by 1.9 D; BCVA improved 1.66 lines. |
| Raiskup-wolf et al (2008)43 | Germany | Retrospective case series (241) | 6–72 | Kmax decreased by 2.57 D; BCVA improved to 58%. |
| Grewal et al. (2009)44 | India | Uncontrolled, prospective trial (102) | 12 | Stable BCVA, spherical equivalent and corneal curvature. |
| Coskunseven et al. (2009)45 | Turkey | Controlled (fellow eye) non-randomized (19/19) | 5–12 | Kmax decreased by 1.57 D; BCVA improved by 0.10. |
| Kanellopoulos (2009)46 | Greece | Prospective study (325) | 24–68 | The mean UCVA and BCVA improved in both groups, and mean reduction in spherical equivalent refraction and K were 2.50 ± 1.20 D and 2.75 ± 1.30 D, respectively, in PRK group. Mean reduction in spherical equivalent refraction and K were 3.20 ± 1.40 D and 3.50 ± 1.3 D respectively, in simultaneous group. UCVA and BCVA, a greater mean reduction in spherical equivalent refraction and keratometry, and less corneal haze were seen in PRK plus CXL group. |
| Richoz et al. (2013)47 | Switzerland | Retrospective, interventional cases series (66) | 12–62 | BCVA improved 1 line or more in 19 cases; mean K (max) reduced 2 D after CXL and keratoconus index reduced; the R (min) after CXL increased (P < 0.001). |
| Witting-Silva et al. (2014)48 | Australia | Prospective, randomized controlled trial (100) | 3, 6, 12, 24, and 36 | Kmax flattened by −0.72 ± 0.15 D, −0.96 ± 0.16 D, and −1.03 ± 0.19 D at 12, 24, and 36 months, respectively both UCVA and BCVA improved at 36 months |
| Kymionis GD et al. (2014)49 | Greece | Prospective case series (23) | 24–56 | The mean UCVA improved from 0.99 ± 0.57 logMAR preoperatively to 0.61 ± 0.36 logMAR at the last follow-up. The mean BCVA, from 0.27 ± 0.24 logMAR to 0.17 ± 0.14 logMAR; The mean steep and mean flat keratometry decreased from 53.39 ± 7.14 D and 47.17 ± 4.87 D. |
| Kontadakis GA et al. (2016)50 | Greece | Prospective, comparative interventional case series (60) | 36 | BCVA was 0.09 ± 0.10 logMAR in the tPRK-CXL group and 0.15 ± 0.12 logMAR in the CXL group. UCVA was 0.27 ± 0.25 logMAR in the tPRK-CXL group and 0.69 ± 0.58 logMAR in the CXL group. Improved in 2 lines. |
BCVA: Best corrected visual acuity, UCVA: Uncorrected visual acuity, Kmax: Maximum curvature, D: Diopter, logMAR: The Logarithm of the minimum angle of resolution, CXL: Corneal cross-linking, tPRK: Transepithelial photorefractive keratectomy.