[Increased rigidity of the cornea caused by intrastromal cross-linking].
OBJECTIVE
To increase the stability of the cornea by artificial cross-linking (radiation or chemical agents) and to investigate a future therapy for keratoconus.


METHODS
The epithelium of enucleated porcine eyes was removed. Ten eyes in each of eight test groups were treated with UV light (lambda = 254 nm), 0.5% riboflavin and UV light (365 nm), blue light (436 nm) and sunlight, and the chemical agents glutaraldehyde (1% and 0.1%, 10 min) and Karnovsky's solution (0.1%, 10 min). Strips of 5 mm in width and 9 mm in length were cut from each cornea and the stress-strain behaviour of the strips was measured. For comparison, eight groups of ten untreated corneas each were measured by the same method.


RESULTS
Compared to untreated corneas riboflavin and UV irradiation as well as glutaraldehyde and Karnovsky's solution treatment resulted in significantly increased stiffness of the cornea (p < 0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
The biomechanical behaviour of the cornea can be altered by low-concentration glutaraldehyde, Karnovsky's solution, and by riboflavin and UV irradiation, which offers potential conservative treatment of keratoconus. To optimize this effect further investigation is necessary regarding the dose-effect relation and the in-vivo conditions.
Spörl
E
E
Augenklinik und Poliklinik, Universitätsklinikum Carl-Gustow-Carus, Technische Universität Dresden.
Huhle
M
M
Kasper
M
M
Seiler
T
T
D000818:Animals; D001696:Biomechanical Phenomena; D003094:Collagen / Q000502:physiology; D003315:Cornea / Q000503:physiopathology*; D003319:Corneal Stroma / Q000503:physiopathology*; D004548:Elasticity; D007640:Keratoconus / Q000503:physiopathology*; D008856:Microscopy, Fluorescence; D011509:Proteoglycans / Q000502:physiology; D013552:Swine
D011509:Proteoglycans; D003094:Collagen
Erhöhung der Festigkeit der Hornhaut durch Vernetzung.