Purpose: To comprehensively review the available published literature for cross-linking in the pediatric population.
Methods: Review of the literature published in English in PubMed.
Results: Two hundred ten publications were considered. One hundred fifteen were considered relevant to this review.
Conclusions: Studies of cross-linking in pediatric patients are sparse, with relatively short follow-up times, and mostly on small groups of patients. Treatment with cross-linking halts progression of keratoconus in the pediatric population, and early treatment seems to be cost-effective compared with later penetrating keratoplasty. Long-term effects and regression rates remain unclear, and further studies are needed in this population.