Purpose
To compare the safety and efficacy of standard 30 min epithelium‐off cross‐linking (
CXL
) versus photorefractive keratectomy (
PRK
) combined with accelerated epithelium‐off cross‐linking (
AXL
) for the treatment of progressive keratoconus (
CXL
‐Plus).
Methods
This study was a prospective multicentre comparative clinical study. A total of 125 eyes of 75 patients with grade 1 keratoconus and documented progression were divided into two groups. Group A included 58 eyes treated with standard
CXL
. Group B included 67 eyes treated with combined
PRK
and
AXL
. The recorded data included
UDVA
,
CDVA
, subjective and objective refraction, keratometry and pachymetry using corneal topographies preoperatively and postoperatively at 3, 6, 12 and 24 months of follow‐up.
Results
In group A, at 24 months of
UDVA
and
CDVA
were improved from 1.12 ± 0.38 and 0.58 ± 0.42 to 0.66 ± 0.20 and 0.20 ± 0.12 (Log
MAR
±
SD
). The spherical equivalent was reduced from 4.03 ± 1.18 to 1.78 ± 1.04 D. The cylinder reduction was 0.32 ± 0.19 D. In group B, at 24 months of
UDVA
and
CDVA
were improved from 1.26 ± 0.52 and 0.68 ± 0.36 to 0.58 ± 0.28 and 0.20 ± 0.16 (Log
MAR
±
SD
). The spherical equivalent was reduced from 4.23 ± 0.95 to 1.92 ± 0.74 D. The cylinder reduction was ±1.76 D.
Conclusion
Surprisingly, standard
CXL
showed close results to
CXL
‐Plus at the 24th follow‐up month. Standard
CXL
acted as a stabilizing procedure associated with a late myopic component reduction.
CXL
‐Plus acted as a refractive and stabilizing procedure with an early effect on both the myopic and the astigmatic component but no later improvements. Standard
CXL
seems to be more powerful than
AXL
in its long‐term effect. Therefore, in the future, we want to test the combination of
PRK
with standard
CXL
.