Corneal cross-linking for keratoconus: Evaluation of the retina and choroid

Abstract

PURPOSE: To investigate the possible structural changes of the central choroid and retina after collagen cross-linking (CXL) in patients with progressive keratoconus (KCN). METHODS: Twenty-five eyes of 25 patients were included in this study. Patients underwent enhanced depth imaging optical coherence tomography (EDI-OCT) before and 1 month after CXL. The values for central macular thickness (CMT), subfoveal choroidal thickness (CHT), and choroidal volume (CHV) were evaluated. RESULTS: CMT before and after CXL was 263.24 ± 16.25 μm and 263.20 ± 16.51 μm, respectively (p = 0.98). CHT was 362.08 ± 36.80 μm and 367.84 ± 33.67 μm before and after CXL, respectively (p = 0.26). CHV was 8.74 ± 0.33 mm3 and 8.68 ± 0.36 mm3 before and after CXL, respectively (p = 0.11). There was no significant difference in the corrected distance visual acuity before and after CXL (0.06 ± 0.05 and 0.05 ± 0.05 logMAR, respectively, p = 0.65). CONCLUSION: Central retinal and choroidal thicknesses are not changed after corneal cross- linking.