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Purpose To establish the effect of systemic oxidative stress on the pathogenesis of keratoconus by measuring serum total oxidant status (TOS) and total antioxidant status (TAS) in patients with keratoconus. Methods Twenty-five patients with keratoconus (keratoconus group) and 25 age-sex-matched healthy subjects (control group) were enrolled in the study. Exclusion criteria were smoking habit, history of any other corneal pathology, systemic disease or inflammation, and current antioxidant or anti-inflammatory therapies. All participants underwent a detailed ophthalmological examination and corneal topography. Serum samples were obtained from all participants. Oxidative stress markers (TAS and TOS) were measured using a commercial kit and oxidative stress index (OSI) was calculated. Results The study comprised 25 patients with keratoconus (mean age of 26.4 ± 1.7 years) and 25 healthy control subjects (mean age of 26.6 ± 1.7 years) (P40.05). The serum TOS and OSI values were significantly higher in patients with keratoconus compared with those of the controls (P ¼ 0.036 and 0.037, respectively). However, serum TAS did not show significant difference between the keratoconus and control groups (P ¼ 0.497). Conclusions The higher levels of serum oxidant status and OSI in patients with keratoconus suggest that systemic oxidative stress might be involved in the pathogenesis of keratoconus.

Purpose To assess the effects of preoperative patient characteristics on clinical outcomes of corneal crosslinking (CXL) treatment in patients with progressive keratoconus. Methods This retrospective study comprised 96 eyes of 96 patients who had unilateral CXL treatment for progressive keratoconus. All patients underwent a complete ophthalmological examination and corneal topography at baseline and 1 year. Subgroup analyses were performed according to the age (o30 andZ30 years), gender, preoperative corrected distance visual acuity (CDVA, o0.3 and Z0.3 logMAR (log of the minimum angle of resolution)), preoperative maximum keratometry (K, o54 and Z54 D), baseline topographic cone location (central, paracentral, and peripheral), and preoperative thinnest pachymetry (o450 and Z450 mm) to determine the associations between preoperative patient characteristics and outcomes (changes in visual acuity and maximum keratometry) of CXL treatment. Results In the entire study population, mean CDVA and maximum K significantly improved after CXL treatment (Po0.001). Patients with a preoperative CDVA of 20/40 Snellen equivalent or worse (Z0.3 logMAR) experienced more visual improvement after CXL treatment (Po0.001). However, an age Z30 years and a baseline thinnest pachymetry less than 450 mm were found significantly associated with more flattening in maximum keratometry (P ¼ 0.024, P ¼ 0.005 respectively). Gender, preoperative maximum K, and baseline topographic cone location did not show significant effect on postoperative visual acuity and maximum keratometry (P40.05). Conclusions In patients with progressive keratoconus, age, baseline visual acuity, and baseline thinnest pachymetry seem to affect the success of the CXL treatment.