Sequential in vivo confocal microscopy study of corneal wound healing after cross-linking in patients with keratoconus.

Purpose: To evaluate the short- and long-term sequential histological changes of the cornea in vivo after corneal collagen cross-linking (CXL) in patients with keratoconus.

Methods: Eighteen patients with keratoconus (Amsler-Krumeich classification: stages I, II, and III) underwent CXL with riboflavin/ultraviolet A (UVA) in one eye. The corneas were examined preoperatively and within 5 hours, 7 and 14 days, and 1, 3, 6, 9, 12, 18, 24, and 36 months after the procedure using in vivo confocal microscopy.