Welcome to the final installment of Cataract & Refractive Surgery Today’s three-part series highlighting corneal ectasia. This article discusses corneal collagen cross-linking with riboflavin, the latest addition to our armamentarium for the treatment of keratoconus and for stabilizing corneal ectasia after keratorefractive surgery. Internationally, cross-linking is widely becoming an accepted ...

We report the first pilot qualitative confocal microscopic analysis of a laser in situ keratomileusis (Lasik) treatment combined with sequential high-fluence accelerated corneal collagen cross-linking, denominated Lasik XTra, by means of HRT II laser scanning in vivo confocal microscopy after a 6-month follow-up. After obtaining approval from the Siena University Hospital Institutional Review B...

BACKGROUND We describe a modified method for deepitheliazation prior to corneal cross linking (CXL). The technique may overcome the current corneal pachymetric limitation parameter (over 400 microns) that is necessary for the safety of the procedure without affecting the overall benefits. METHODS In a series of two patients, with inferior topographic steepening and regional thinning (less tha...

Intracorneal ring employment for treating ectasia is widespread. Although the mechanism of action of intracorneal rings in the regularization of the corneal surface after its implantation is well known in most cases, there are still many doubts. We present a case of implanted intracorneal rings, where, despite the peculiar position of the rings, the patient gains lines of visual acuity and kera...

PURPOSE To differentiate between keratoconus and contact lens-related corneal warpage by combining focal change patterns in anterior corneal topography, pachymetry, and epithelial thickness maps. METHODS Pachymetry and epithelial thickness maps of normal, keratoconus, and warpage, and forme fruste keratoconus (FFK) eyes were obtained from a Fourier-domain optical coherence tomography (OCT). E...

PURPOSE In recent years, the interest in corneal biomechanics has strongly increased. The material properties of the cornea determine its shape and therefore play an important role in corneal ectasia and related pathologies. This review addresses the molecular origin of biomechanical properties, models for their description, methods for their characterisation, techniques for their modification,...