A new treatment of keratectasia after LASIK with riboflavin/UVA light cross-linking

Background: Keratectasia is one of the most severe complications after refractive laser surgery. Usually penetrating keratoplasty is the treatment of choice to achieve an optical rehabilitation in such cases. Patients and Methods: We report on a female patient who developed keratectasia in both eyes 4 weeks after LASIK. Due to a severe keratectasia 10 months after LASIK, a treatment with riboflavin/UVA cross-linking was performed. Results: Due to the induced collagen cross-linking the biomechanical status of the cornea was stabilized and a progression of the keratectasia was prevented. The postoperative refraction and corneal topography have been stable for 18 months. Conclusion: Collagen cross-linking leads to a stiffening of the anterior parts of the corneal stroma. The increase of biomechanical stability can stop the progression of a keratectasia after LASIK by means of a simple procedure.