CXL Benefits Postrefractive Surgery Patients With Ectasia

Corneal collagen crosslinking (CXL) is a promising new treatment modality designed to stabilize or decrease the progression of keratoconus, as well as other cornealthinning processes such as ectasia after LASIK or PRK. An increase in corneal biomechanical strength after CXL slows the progression of keratoconus and other forms of ectasia with few reported complications. Underlying the efficacy of CXL is the production of covalent crosslinks within and between collagen molecules, leading to strengthening of the stromal tissue and mitigation of the progression of ectatic corneal disorders. Multiple studies suggest that CXL may have beneficial visual and optical effects by decreasing corneal steepness, improving topographic irregularity indices, and improving distance UCVA and BCVA.