Corneal Cross-Linking Treatment
Corneal cross-linking is a minimally invasive treatment to treat progressive
keratoconus (and, sometimes, other conditions that cause a similar weakening of the
cornea). The corneal cross-linking treatment strengthens and stabilizes the cornea
through the creation of new links between collagen fibres. This two-stage treatment
is followed directly by a regulated exposure to ultraviolet light for specialized
riboflavin (Vitamin B) drops on the surface of the eye.
Corneal Cross-Linking Treatment at KABERA
Corneal cross-linking takes about 2 hours to prepare, therapy and recuperate
properly in an office environment. The best part about this is that the process is
minimally invasive using simply eye drops, ultraviolet light and a painless bubbling
off the corneal surface cells. This technology is a game-changer and our patients are
proud to get it!
Epithelium-off cross-linking
In this procedure, the thin outer layer (epithelium) of the cornea is removed to allow
the liquid riboflavin to more easily penetrate the deeper corneal tissue.
Epithelium-on cross-linking
In this procedure (also called transepithelial cross-linking), the protective corneal
epithelium is left intact, making it a less invasive procedure than cross-linking with
epithelium removal.