Corneal cross-linking

Corneal cross-linking (CXL) with riboflavin (vitamin B2) and UV-A light is a surgical treatment for corneal ectasia such as keratoconus, PMD, and post-LASIK ectasia.

Corneal cross-linking
Cross-linking procedure, UV light source[1]
Other namesCross-linking, CXL, C3-R, CCL, KXL
CPT0402T

It is used in an attempt to make the cornea stronger. According to a 2015 Cochrane review, there is insufficient evidence to determine if it is useful in keratoconus.[2] In 2016, the US Food and Drug Administration approved riboflavin ophthalmic solution crosslinking based on three 12-month clinical trials.[3]

Medical uses

A 2015 Cochrane review found that the evidence on corneal cross-linking was insufficient to determine if it is an effective procedure for the treatment of keratoconus.[2]

Adverse effects

Among those with keratoconus who worsen, CXL may be used. In this group, the most common side effects are haziness of the cornea, punctate keratitis, corneal striae, corneal epithelium defect, and eye pain.[4] In those who use it after post-LASIK ectasia, the most common side effects are haziness of the cornea, corneal epithelium defect, corneal striae, dry eye, eye pain, punctate keratitis, and sensitivity to bright lights.[5]

There are no long-term studies about crosslinking effect on pregnancy and lactation. According to a manufacturer crosslinking should not be performed on pregnant women.[5]

Cautions

People undergoing crosslinking should not rub their eyes for the first five days after the procedure.[5]

Procedure
Removed corneal epithelium during CCR operation on an eye with post-LASIK complication, from Kymionis et al., 2009[6]

Corneal cross-linking involves application of riboflavin solution to the eye that is activated by illumination with UV-A light for approximately 30 or fewer minutes. The riboflavin causes new bonds to form across adjacent collagen strands and proteoglycans in the stromal layer of the cornea, which recovers and preserves some of the cornea's mechanical strength. The corneal epithelial layer is generally removed to increase penetration of the riboflavin into the stroma, a procedure known as the Dresden protocol.[7]

People that are considered for treatment must undergo an extensive clinical workup, including corneal tomography, computerized corneal topography, endothelial microscopy, ultrasound pachymetry, b-scan sonography, keratometry and biomicroscopy.

History

The technique was first developed in Germany in 1997 by Eberhard Spoerl and his team at the Dresden University of Technology.[8][9]

Approvals and clinical trials

In Germany, CXL has been used in patients with keratoconus since 1998,[8] and in Italy, routine interventions have been successfully performed since 2005.[10] The standard (Dresden) CXL protocol with epithelium removal, is approved for use throughout Europe.

In the United States, clinical trials commenced only in 2008. Based on three 12-month clinical trials, the US Food and Drug Administration approved riboflavin ophthalmic solution and Avedro's KXL system for crosslinking on 18 April 2016, for the treatment of progressive keratoconus, and on 19 July 2016, for corneal ectasia after refractive surgery, making them the first FDA approved treatment for keratoconus and post-LASIK ectasia.[3][11]

Research

Research studying the safety and efficacy of corneal cross-linking is ongoing.[4][12][13]

Transepithelial or epithelium-on (epi-on) cross-linking is a technique which was first performed in 2004 in the U.S.,[14] the corneal epithelium layer is left intact.[15] in this technique, because the epithelium is not removed, riboflavin loading requires more time than with epi-off techniques, and may be less effective, as keratoconus progression may be more likely in epi-on procedures.[16]

Contact lens-assisted cross-linking (CACXL) may be performed for people with corneal stromal thickness between 350 μm to 400 μm after epithelial removal. in this method a pre-corneal riboflavin film, a riboflavin-soaked UV barrier-free soft contact lens of negligible power and a pre-contact lens riboflavin film are used to decrease UV irradiance to safe levels at the level of the endothelium.[17][18]

Topography-guided crosslinking relies on an active eye tracker to allow a patterned delivery of UV light. Both the power and pattern can be programmed into the unit based on the topography of the individual's eyes.[19]

Accelerated crosslinking allows a shorter treatment time by delivering the same energy more quickly, compared to the standard crosslinking procedure, which involves 3 mW of UV-A exposure for 30 minutes.[19] Some hospitals are using this accelerated CXL technique delivering a similar amount of UV-A energy in eight to ten minutes, following research showing the cornea may better tolerate this shorter burst of UV-A.[20][21] However, a recent study using the real-world registry data showed that the standard (Dresden) CXL was associated with better visual and corneal curvature outcomes 5-years post-surgery.[12]

References
  1. Renesto Ada, C; Sartori, M; Campos, M (January–February 2011). "[Cross-linking and intrastromal corneal ring segment]". Arquivos Brasileiros de Oftalmologia. 74 (1): 67–74. doi:10.1590/s0004-27492011000100017. PMID 21670914.
  2. Sykakis, E; Karim, R; Evans, JR; Bunce, C; Amissah-Arthur, KN; Patwary, S; McDonnell, PJ; Hamada, S (24 March 2015). "Corneal collagen cross-linking for treating keratoconus" (PDF). The Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews. 3 (3): CD010621. doi:10.1002/14651858.CD010621.pub2. PMID 25803325.
  3. Lowes, Robert (18 April 2016). "FDA Approves Photrexa for Corneal Crosslinking in Keratoconus". Medscape.com.
  4. Kandel, Himal; Nguyen, Vuong; Ferdi, Alex C.; Gupta, Aanchal; Abbondanza, Marco; Sullivan, Laurence; Apel, Andrew; Watson, Stephanie L. (21 April 2021). "Comparative Efficacy and Safety of Standard Versus Accelerated Corneal Crosslinking for Keratoconus: 1-Year Outcomes From the Save Sight Keratoconus Registry Study". Cornea. Publish Ahead of Print (12): 1581–1589. doi:10.1097/ICO.0000000000002747. ISSN 0277-3740. PMID 33935236. S2CID 233483415.
  5. "PHOTREXA VISCOUS- riboflavin 5-phosphate in 20% dextran ophthalmic solution/ drops PHOTREXA- riboflavin 5-phosphate ophthalmic solution/ drops". DailyMed. U.S. NATIONAL LIBRARY OF MEDICINE.
  6. Kymionis GD, Diakonis VF, Coskunseven E, Jankov M, Yoo SH, Pallikaris IG (2009). "Customized pachymetric guided epithelial debridement for corneal collagen cross linking". BMC Ophthalmology. 9: 10. doi:10.1186/1471-2415-9-10. PMC 2744909. PMID 19715585.
  7. Spoerl E, Wollensak G, Dittert DD, Seiler T (2004). "Thermomechanical behavior of collagen-cross-linked porcine cornea". Ophthalmologica. 218 (2): 136–40. doi:10.1159/000076150. PMID 15004504. S2CID 25416319.
  8. SPOERL, EBERHARD; HUHLE, MICHAEL; SEILER, THEO (January 1998). "Induction of Cross-links in Corneal Tissue". Experimental Eye Research. 66 (1): 97–103. doi:10.1006/exer.1997.0410. PMID 9533835.
  9. Spörl, E; Seiler, T; Huhle, M; Kasper, M (1997). "Increased rigidity of the cornea caused by intrastromal cross-linking". Ophthalmologe. 94 (12): 902–6. doi:10.1007/s003470050219. PMID 9487761.
  10. Caporossi, Aldo; Mazzotta, Cosimo; Baiocchi, Stefano; Caporossi, Tomaso (April 2010). "Long-term Results of Riboflavin Ultraviolet A Corneal Collagen Cross-linking for Keratoconus in Italy: The Siena Eye Cross Study". American Journal of Ophthalmology. 149 (4): 585–593. doi:10.1016/j.ajo.2009.10.021. PMID 20138607.
  11. "Highlights of Prescribing Information: PHOTREXA VISCOUS (riboflavin 5'-phosphate in 20% dextran ophthalmic solution) 0.146% for topical ophthalmic use PHOTREXA (riboflavin 5'-phosphate ophthalmic solution) 0.146% for topical ophthalmic use For use with the KXL System" (PDF). U.S. Food and Drug Administration. pp. 5–14.
  12. Kandel, Himal; Abbondanza, Marco; Gupta, Aanchal; Mills, Richard; Watson, Adam S.; Petsoglou, Constantinos; Kerdraon, Yves; Watson, Stephanie L. (27 June 2023). "Comparison of standard versus accelerated corneal collagen cross-linking for keratoconus: 5-year outcomes from the Save Sight Keratoconus Registry". Eye. doi:10.1038/s41433-023-02641-6. ISSN 0950-222X. PMID 37369766.
  13. "Facts About the Cornea and Corneal Disease". NEI. May 2016. Archived from the original on 22 November 2016. Retrieved 6 November 2016.
  14. Kathryn M. Hatch; William B. Trattler. (16 May 2012). "Corneal Crosslinking: Epi-on or Epi-off?". Medscape.
  15. Spadea, Leopoldo; Mencucci (November 2012). "Transepithelial corneal collagen cross-linking in ultrathin keratoconic corneas". Clinical Ophthalmology. 6: 1785–92. doi:10.2147/OPTH.S37335. PMC 3497455. PMID 23152657.
  16. Shalchi, Z; Wang, X; Nanavaty, M A (3 October 2014). "Safety and efficacy of epithelium removal and transepithelial corneal collagen crosslinking for keratoconus". Eye. 29 (1): 15–29. doi:10.1038/eye.2014.230. PMC 4289825. PMID 25277300.
  17. Agarwal, Amar; Jacob, Soosan (10 August 2014). "Contact lens-assisted cross-linking treats corneal ectatic disorders in thin corneas". Ocular Surgery News U.S. Edition.
  18. Jacob, Soosan. "Contact Lens-Assisted CXL for Thin Corneas". Cataract & Refractive Surgery Today.
  19. HERSH, PETER. "Corneal collagen crosslinking: A clinical update".
  20. "Corneal cross-linking" (PDF). Moorfields Eye Hospital NHS Foundation Trust. 2015. Retrieved 31 July 2021.
  21. Manthorp, Catherine (15 April 2020). "A CXL Guide For the Surgically Savvy". Review of Optometry. Retrieved 31 July 2021.
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