Corneal cross-linking is a treatment for keratoconus that uses riboflavin eye drops and UV light to strengthen the collagen in the cornea. There are two types of cross-linking - epithelium-off which removes the outer corneal layer, and epithelium-on which leaves it intact. Cross-linking adds bonds between collagen fibers to help stabilize the cornea. It is best used early in keratoconus before the cornea becomes severely irregular. Keratoconus causes the cornea to thin and bulge into a cone shape due to weakened collagen from decreased antioxidants. It is diagnosed based on changes in corneal shape and vision problems. Treatment options include glasses, contacts, cross-linking, and

1. Corneal Cross-Linking
Ayienwi FRUBIH WILSON
COA,SRN,BSN

2. OBJECTIVES
• WHAT IS CORNEAL CROSS-LINKING?
• TYPES OF CROSS-LINKING
• Procedure and process
• WHAT IS KERATOCONUS AND ITS CAUSE?
• HOW IS KERATOCONUS DIAGNOSED?
• TREATMENT?

3. CORNEAL CROSS-LINKING
• Corneal cross-linking is a treatment for an EYE problem
called KERATOCONUS

4. TYPES OF CROSS-LINKING
• 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.

5. Procedure and process
• Eyedrop medication and ultraviolet (UV) light are used to make the tissues
in your cornea stronger. The goal is to keep the cornea from bulging more.
• It’s called “cross-linking” because it adds bonds between the collagen
fibers in your eye. They work like support beams to help the cornea stay
stable.
• specially formulated riboflavin (vitamin B2) eyedrops, which allow your
cornea to better absorb light. It takes about 30 minutes for the drops to
soak into your cornea.

6. Who Should Get Corneal Cross-Linking?
Every victim of keratoconus.
Best at the early stages when cornea not severely irregular

7. WHO CAN’T GET IT
• PREGNANT WOMEN
• CORNEA KERATITIS
• CORNEA THICKNESS LESS THAN 400MICRO METERS
• ACTIVE OCCULAR DISEASE
• DIABETES
• IMMUNOCOMPROMISED PATIENT

8. WHAT IS KERATOCONUS AND ITS CAUSE?
•This is the outward bulging of the cornea from its dome
shape into a cone-like shape.

9. Causes
•Keratoconus is caused by a decrease in
protective antioxidants in the cornea which leads to weakness
in collagen fibers.
•Commonly starts at the age of 10 years and NOT GENETIC
BUT RUNS IN FAMILIES.

10. DIAGNOSING KERATOCONUS
• As the cornea changes from a ball shape to a cone shape.
•A sudden change of vision in one eye double when looking
with just one eye
• Objects both near and far looking distorted
• Being uncomfortable driving due to blurry vision, especially at
night
•Performing a cornea topography

11. TREATMENT
•Eye Glasses
•Contacts
•Collagen cross-linking
•Intacts
•Cornea transplant

12. MECHANISM OF ACTION

13. THANKS FOR YOUR ATTENTION