Laser-Guided Custom Corneal Collagen Cross-Linking Treatment for Keratoconus Using Optical Coherence Tomography

What this Trial Is About

Researchers are studying a procedure called Laser Custom Corneal Collagen Cross-linking CXL to treat keratoconus, an eye condition affecting the cornea. The study evaluates the use of Optical Coherence Tomography OCT, a non-contact imaging method that measures scar depth, cloudiness, and corneal thinning, to guide laser settings during corneal smoothing. The goal is to see how OCT guidance affects vision improvement and corneal healing after the procedure. The treatment involves using OCT measurements before surgery to help set laser depth for smoothing the cornea and removing opacities while keeping enough corneal tissue intact. After laser treatment, patients receive either mitomycin-C MMC, a substance that reduces corneal haze, or saline solution according to their assigned group. Then, the standard FDA-approved CXL procedure is performed. This study compares the effects of these steps to assess direct and indirect laser impacts. Participants will be monitored for at least six months after the laser custom CXL procedure. Researchers will measure improvement in best spectacle-corrected visual acuity and assess the depth of the CXL demarcation line one month after treatment. During the study, patients will have OCT imaging and other eye examinations to track healing and vision changes. The research aims to better understand how OCT guidance influences outcomes in keratoconus treatment.

Collagen Cross-linking in Keratoconus