Keratoconus and Other Corneal Diseases: Pharmacologic Cross-Linking and Future Therapy.
The ability to cross-link collagen fibers and use this technique to strengthen the cornea has become of great interest to ophthalmologists in the last decade. For progressive diseases such as keratoconus, collagen cross-linking confers the possibility of halting progression and stabilizing the cornea, a benefit that is not observed with any other current treatment. Collagen cross-linking uses riboflavin combined with ultraviolet A light to induce the formation of bonds between collagen fibrils that strengthen the cornea. This chapter will discuss the theory, technique, indications, and complications of corneal cross-linking. Much of what will be discussed is in areas of active research that will likely be further clarified as more experience is gained with this procedure.
University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL, 60612, USA.
Kimberly M
KM
Hsu
University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL, 60612, USA. joelsuga@uic.edu.
Joel
J
Sugar
D003094:Collagen / Q000378:metabolism*; D003315:Cornea; D003432:Cross-Linking Reagents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006801:Humans; D007640:Keratoconus / Q000188:drug therapy*; D012256:Riboflavin / Q000494:pharmacology*
D003432:Cross-Linking Reagents; D003094:Collagen; D012256:Riboflavin
Collagen cross-linking; Cornea; Keratoconus