title: Riboflavin and ultraviolet A collagen crosslinking: in vivo thermographic analysis of the corneal surface.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To assess the possible thermal damage to the cornea during combined riboflavin and ultraviolet-A crosslinking using in vivo surface thermographic analysis.
  
  
  METHODS
  Department of Oto-Neuro-Ophthalmological Surgical Sciences, Eye Clinic, University of Florence, Florence, Italy.
  
  
  METHODS
  Collagen crosslinking was performed on a day-surgery basis under aseptic conditions with traditional techniques. During the procedure, temperature measurements on the corneal surface were taken using an infrared thermocamera. The temperature values were detected in the area directly exposed to light irradiation, selecting it in the acquired thermographic image. Because the aim of the study was to consider the thermal damage that may be induced during the procedure, the maximum temperature value detected in the area studied was recorded and considered for successive analysis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Infrared thermocamera measurements of the corneal surface during crosslinking treatment showed that the temperature was constant during the entire procedure and remains under the threshold of thermal injury to corneal collagen.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Corneal collagen crosslinking was a safe procedure that did not cause thermal injury to the corneal surface.
authors.affiliation: Department of Oto-Neuro-Ophthalmological Surgical Sciences, Eye Clinic, University of Florence, Viale G B Morgagni 85, 50134 Florence, Italy. rita.mencucci@unifi.it
authors.forename: Rita
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Mencucci
authors.forename: Cosimo
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Mazzotta
authors.forename: Francesca
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Rossi
authors.forename: Claudia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Ponchietti
authors.forename: Roberto
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Pini
authors.forename: Stefano
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Baiocchi
authors.forename: Aldo
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Caporossi
authors.forename: Ugo
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Menchini
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001831:Body Temperature; D003094:Collagen / Q000378:metabolism*; D003315:Cornea / Q000502:physiology* / Q000528:radiation effects; D005126:Eye Burns / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007640:Keratoconus / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D010778:Photochemotherapy; D017319:Photosensitizing Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D012256:Riboflavin / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D013817:Thermography; D014466:Ultraviolet Rays
chemical_list: D017319:Photosensitizing Agents; D003094:Collagen; D012256:Riboflavin