Accelerated Epithelium-off Corneal Cross-linking With Preservation of a Central Epithelial Island in the Management of Paracentral Progressive Keratoconus: A Comparative Clinical Trial

Study Overview

This study examined a new treatment for patients with paracentral keratoconus, a condition affecting the cornea of the eye. It compared two methods of accelerated corneal cross-linking (A-CXL): one that keeps the central part of the cornea intact (3 mm) and another that removes the entire outer layer of the cornea (epithelium).

Key Findings

The results showed that patients who had A-CXL while preserving the central corneal epithelium experienced:

Better early vision after the surgery.
Less corneal haze.
Less pain and discomfort during the first week.
Overall improvement in vision and corneal shape after 12 months.

Practical Healthcare Solutions

This treatment offers significant benefits, including:

Faster visual recovery.
Lower risk of complications like corneal haze.
Prevention of keratoconus progression.

Goals for Clinics and Patients

The study encourages clinics to:

Adopt A-CXL with central epithelial preservation as a standard practice.
Focus on measurable outcomes like vision improvement and patient comfort.

Next Steps

We recommend starting with a small-scale implementation of this treatment. Track the results using AI tools to assess the effectiveness of A-CXL and make necessary adjustments based on real-world outcomes.