Topographic Changes After Cxl In Keratoconus Patients At 3- And 6-Months Follow-Up

Abstract

Objective: To measure the mean change in keratometry after corneal collagen cross-linking (CXL) in keratoconus patients at 3- and 6-month follow-up.

Study Design: Quasi-experimental study.

Place and Duration of Study: Ophthalmology Department of Al-Shifa Trust Eye Hospital, Rawalpindi, Pakistan, from May to Dec 2025.

Methodology: After obtaining approval from the ethical committee, we collected a sample of sixty patients suffering from progressive keratoconus between the ages of 18–30 years. All patients underwent corneal collagen cross-linking (CXL) and were followed up at three- and six-month intervals. The primary outcomes were mean flat and steep keratometry measured with the help of a Dual Scheimpflug analyzer (Galilei™ G4; Ziemer, Switzerland). Comparisons were made between pre-operative and post-operative readings.

Results: The primary outcome parameter was keratometry (flat and steep). The pre-operative flat simulated keratometry (K1) was 47.47±1.17 Diopters (D), steep simulated keratometry (K2) was 53.09±1.39 Diopters, and mean average keratometry (Km) was 50.58±0.97 D. The Km was 47.12±0.95 D after three months of CXL, K1 was 46.21±1.40 D, and K2 was 48.04±1.34 D, which showed a statistically significant difference compared to pre-operative values through paired t-test with p-value less than 0.001. The mean average keratometry (Km) was 45.92±0.94 D after six months of CXL, K1 was 43.67±1.31 D, and K2 was 47.22±1.39 D, with p-value <0.001. When keratometry values were compared at three- and six-month intervals, there was a significant difference with p-value <0.001.

Conclusion: We concluded that corneal topography, astigmatism, and visual acuity improved significantly in three and six months ..