title: Long-term follow-up of corneal collagen cross-linking for keratoconus--the Cretan study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to present the long-term results of corneal collagen cross-linking (CXL) in patients with keratoconus.
  
  
  METHODS
  In this prospective, interventional case series, patients with progressive keratoconus underwent CXL treatment according to the Dresden protocol. Visual, refractive, and topographic outcomes along with endothelial cell density were evaluated preoperatively and at 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 years postoperatively.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Twenty-one patients (25 eyes) were enrolled. The mean follow-up was 43.7 ± 12.2 (range, 24-60) months. Logarithm of the minimum angle of resolution (logMAR) mean uncorrected visual acuity and the mean best spectacle-corrected visual acuity improved significantly from 0.92 ± 0.54 and 0.29 ± 0.21 preoperatively to 0.63 ± 0.41 (P = 0.010) and 0.18 ± 0.18 (P = 0.011), respectively, at the last follow-up. Mean steep and mean flat keratometry readings reduced significantly from 52.53 ± 6.95 diopters (D) and 48.11 ± 5.98 D preoperatively to 49.10 ± 4.50 D (P < 0.001) and 45.58 ± 3.81 D (P = 0.001), respectively, at the last follow-up. The mean endothelial cell density was 2708 ± 302 cells per square millimeter preoperatively and did not change significantly (P > 0.05) at any postoperative interval (2593 ± 258 cells/mm at the last follow-up; P = 0.149).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  CXL seems to be effective and safe in halting progression of keratoconus over a long-term follow-up period up to 5 years postoperatively.
authors.affiliation: *Vardinoyiannion Eye Institute of Crete (VEIC), Faculty of Medicine, University of Crete, Heraklion, Greece; and †Bascom Palmer Eye Institute, Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, FL.
authors.forename: George D
authors.initials: GD
authors.lastname: Kymionis
authors.forename: Michael A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Grentzelos
authors.forename: Dimitrios A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Liakopoulos
authors.forename: Theodoros A
authors.initials: TA
authors.lastname: Paraskevopoulos
authors.forename: Nektarios E
authors.initials: NE
authors.lastname: Klados
authors.forename: Konstantinos I
authors.initials: KI
authors.lastname: Tsoulnaras
authors.forename: Vardhaman P
authors.initials: VP
authors.lastname: Kankariya
authors.forename: Ioannis G
authors.initials: IG
authors.lastname: Pallikaris
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002452:Cell Count; D003094:Collagen / Q000378:metabolism*; D003319:Corneal Stroma / Q000378:metabolism*; D019781:Corneal Topography; D003432:Cross-Linking Reagents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004728:Endothelium, Corneal / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007640:Keratoconus / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000503:physiopathology; D008297:Male; D017319:Photosensitizing Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012029:Refraction, Ocular / Q000502:physiology; D012256:Riboflavin / Q000627:therapeutic use; D014466:Ultraviolet Rays; D014792:Visual Acuity / Q000502:physiology; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D003432:Cross-Linking Reagents; D017319:Photosensitizing Agents; D003094:Collagen; D012256:Riboflavin