الفهرس 
INTRODUCTIONOnly 14 pages are availabe for public view
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Abstract
Keratoconus is a nonfamilial, noninflammatory, bilateral, irregularly progressive, central corneal thinning and secondary ectasia that may ultimately advance to central corneal scarring although perforation is infrequent without trauma. The ectatic area (cone) usually is located inferior and nasal to the visual axis and presents in early childhood with progressive, irregular astigmatism. The rate of progression is variable; however, in most cases keratoconus progresses most rapidly during the second and third decades of life.
Few studies have examined the effectiveness of collagen cross-linking in treating keratoconus and improving visual acuity. Though this method appears to offer an improvement to patients suffering from corneal ectasia, it must be noted that its safety and long-term effects have not been extensively studied.
The objective of this study is to assess the effectiveness of corneal collagen cross-linking in stoppage of the progression of keratoconus through comparing visual acuity and pentacam diagnostic criteria before corneal collagen cross- linking and 6 months to one year after corneal collagen cross- linking.
This is a prospective, interventional, single center study, which was done on fifty patients undergoing CXL in single eye. Riboflavin-ultraviolet X (UV-X) induced CXL included instillation of 0.1% riboflavin and follow up UAVA, BCVA and pentacam assessment at baseline, 1, 3, 6, 12 months after the procedure.
The mean age was 23.32±3.99 years. Twenty nine patients were males (58%) and 21 were females (42%). There were 50% of patients that had CXL for the right eye keratoconus and 50% for the left side. There was a significant
improvement of UAVA, BCVA and decrease in K1, K2 at 12 months of follow up compared to baseline with unchanged corneal thickness. The Astigmatism was significantly decreased at the 6th and 12th months. The posterior surface elevation (C) decreased significantly and progressively starting from the 3rd month. The posterior surface elevation (H) started to decrease significantly from the 6th month. Minimal and transient complications were recorded.
It was concluded that although keratoconus is not curable, cross-linking can help stop its progression, and treating earlier stages of keratoconus is better to preserve visual acuity.
Corneal collagen CXL was recommended to be used as a safe minimally invasive procedure to stop the progression of keratoconus and to preserve visual acuity, especially in early stages of the disease.