C53856: Developments in collagen cross-linking technique

This article offers a review of the technique of collagen cross-linking in its various forms. First, it is useful to review the structure of the cornea and how it is influenced by ageing and disease.

Corneal structure

The cornea has several important functions. Optically it acts as the outermost lens of the eye contributing to approximately two-thirds of the eye’s total focusing power. In humans, this refractive power is approximately +43D which is the sum of the refractive power at the air-stroma interface of +49D minus the endothelium-aqueous power of +6D. Through its transparent properties, it transmits light through the lens to the retina. Additionally, and importantly, the cornea filters some of the damaging ultraviolet wavelengths of sunlight that would otherwise cause damage to the eye.¹