Outcome Indicators for Cross Linking in Pediatric Keratoconus.

PurposeTo evaluate the predictive factors for successful corneal collagen cross-linking (CXL) in pediatric patients with Keratoconus (KC). MethodsThis retrospective study was conducted using a prospectively built database. Patients (18 years old or younger) underwent CXL for KC between 2007 and 2017, with a 1-year follow-up period or longer. The outcomes included changes in Kmax (delta [Delta] Kmax = Kmax(last) - Kmax(pre)) and LogMAR visual acuity (Delta LogMAR = LogMAR(last) - LogMAR(pre)).The effects of CXL type (accelerated or non-accelerated), demographics (age, sex, background of ocular allergy, ethnicity), preoperative LogMAR visual acuity, maximal corneal power (Kmax), pachymetry (CCTpre), refractive cylinder, and follow-up (FU) time on the outcomes were analyzed. ResultsOne hundred thirty-one eyes of 110 children were included (mean age, 16 +/- 2 years; range, 10-18 years). Kmax and LogMAR improved from baseline to last visit: from 53.81 D +/- 6.39 D to 52.31 D +/- 6.06 D (p < 0.001) and from 0.27 +/- 0.23 LogMAR units to 0.23 +/- 0.19 LogMAR units (p = 0.005), respectively. A negative Delta Kmax (meaning corneal flattening) was associated with a long FU, low CCTpre, high Kmax(pre), high LogMAR(pre,) and non-accelerated CXL on univariate analysis. High Kmax(pre) and non-accelerated CXL were associated with negative Delta Kmax in the multivariate analysis.A negative Delta LogMAR (meaning vision improvement) was associated with a high LogMAR(pre) in univariate analysis. ConclusionCXL is an effective treatment option in pediatric patients with KC. Our results showed that the non-accelerated treatment was more effective than the accelerated treatment. Corneas with advanced disease had a greater effect on CXL.