Accelerated Corneal Collagen Cross-Linking Using Topography-Guided UV-A Energy Emission: Preliminary Clinical and Morphological Outcomes.

. To assess the clinical and morphological outcomes of topography-guided accelerated corneal cross-linking. . Retrospective case series. . 21 eyes of 20 patients with progressive keratoconus were enrolled. All patients underwent accelerated cross-linking using an ultraviolet-A (UVA) exposure with an energy release varying from 7.2 J/cm up to 15 J/cm, according to the topographic corneal curvature. Uncorrected (UDVA) and corrected (CDVA) distance visual acuity, topography, in vivo confocal microscopy (IVCM), and anterior segment optic coherence tomography (AS-OCT) were evaluated preoperatively and at the 1, 3, 6, and 12 months postoperatively. . 12 months after surgery UDVA and CDVA did not significantly vary from preoperative values. The average topographic astigmatism decreased from -4.61 ± 0.74 diopters (D) to -3.20 ± 0.81 D and coma aberration improved from 0.95 ± 0.03 m to 0.88 ± 0.04 m after surgery. AS-OCT and IVCM documented differential effects on the treated areas using different energies doses. The depths of demarcation line and keratocyte apoptosis were assessed. . Preliminary results show correspondence between the energy dose applied and the microstructural stromal changes induced by the cross-linking at various depths in different areas of treated cornea. One year after surgery a significant reduction in the topographic astigmatism and comatic aberration was detected. None of the patients developed significant complications.