Collagen crosslinking may have role in postRK progressive hyperopia

Collagen crosslinking is showing promise as a method for arresting progressive hyperopia after radial keratotomy (RK) and laser ablation, said Brian S. Boxer Wachler, MD, at Refractive Surgery 2006.

He reported results from 6 eyes of patients with a mean age of 51 years. All had been treated with laser vision correction for progressive hyperopia after RK, but experienced further progression, said Dr. Boxer Wachler, director, Boxer Wachler Vision Institute, Beverly Hills, CA.

After a mean follow-up of 215 days (range, 30 to 450 days), there have been no significant changes in endothelial cell count, and no eye has experienced more than 1 D of change in sphere or refractive cylinder. Corneal topography also showed no worsening and even a slight steepening on average.

"The change in keratometry makes sense if we consider RK weakens and flattens the cornea and that this procedure may be tightening the incisions to steepen the cornea," he said.

He concluded with cautious optimism.

"Further study is needed in more patients and with longer term follow-up," Dr. Boxer Wachler said. "Based on these preliminary results, we are hopeful that stabilization is occurring and that this might be a nice treatment to offer patients who are suffering from progressive hyperopia after RK."