title: Interaction of ultraviolet light with the cornea: clinical implications for corneal crosslinking.
abstract: Understanding ultraviolet (UV) interaction with the human corneal tissue is of interest among corneal specialists given the widespread application of corneal crosslinking. This article reviews the current knowledge of light interaction with the cornea in the UV wavelength range. It also uses a novel experimental study to illustrate the role of 2 important corneal properties that have not yet been clarified: the epithelial contribution to overall UVA corneal absorbance and the regional anisotropy of UVA light transmittance. Finally, it presents the most recent insights into how different methods of UVA light irradiation and corneal soaking with riboflavin influence the outcome of corneal crosslinking.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  No author has a financial or proprietary interest in any material or method mentioned.
authors.affiliation: From the Fondazione G.B. Bietti IRCCS (M. Lombardo) and Vision Engineering Italy s.r.l. (G. Lombardo), Rome, the Department of Physics (Pucci, Barberi), University of Calabria, and CNR-IPCF Unit of Support Cosenza (G. Lombardo), Rende, Italy. Electronic address: mlombardo@visioeng.it.
authors.forename: Marco
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Lombardo
authors.affiliation: From the Fondazione G.B. Bietti IRCCS (M. Lombardo) and Vision Engineering Italy s.r.l. (G. Lombardo), Rome, the Department of Physics (Pucci, Barberi), University of Calabria, and CNR-IPCF Unit of Support Cosenza (G. Lombardo), Rende, Italy.
authors.forename: Giuseppe
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Pucci
authors.affiliation: From the Fondazione G.B. Bietti IRCCS (M. Lombardo) and Vision Engineering Italy s.r.l. (G. Lombardo), Rome, the Department of Physics (Pucci, Barberi), University of Calabria, and CNR-IPCF Unit of Support Cosenza (G. Lombardo), Rende, Italy.
authors.forename: Riccardo
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Barberi
authors.affiliation: From the Fondazione G.B. Bietti IRCCS (M. Lombardo) and Vision Engineering Italy s.r.l. (G. Lombardo), Rome, the Department of Physics (Pucci, Barberi), University of Calabria, and CNR-IPCF Unit of Support Cosenza (G. Lombardo), Rende, Italy.
authors.forename: Giuseppe
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Lombardo
mesh_terms: D016880:Anisotropy; D003094:Collagen / Q000378:metabolism; D003315:Cornea / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism / Q000528:radiation effects*; D003432:Cross-Linking Reagents; D019573:Epithelium, Corneal; D006801:Humans; D017319:Photosensitizing Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D012256:Riboflavin / Q000627:therapeutic use; D014466:Ultraviolet Rays
chemical_list: D003432:Cross-Linking Reagents; D017319:Photosensitizing Agents; D003094:Collagen; D012256:Riboflavin