[Riboflavin UVA cross-linking for keratoconus]

Keratoconus is a progressive, ectatic disease of the cornea leading to thinning and highly irregular astigmatism. Until recently all treatment options, such as prescription of glasses or contact lenses were symptomatic and neither keratoplasty nor the implantation of intracorneal rings can heal the disease. Riboflavin ultraviolet A (UVA) collagen cross-linking (CXL) cannot heal keratoconus either but promises to halt the progression. The therapeutic principle is a photochemical reaction of riboflavin and UVA light leading to free oxygen radicals in the corneal stroma that induce covalent linking of the collagen fibrils. This stiffening effect should stop the progression. After the first reports at the end of the 1990s the treatment was widely used and many case series show that CXL can be effective in stopping disease progression in some patients. However, randomized, controlled multicenter trials showing high evidence of the treatment effectiveness are rare. This report includes a review of the literature regarding treatment effectiveness, indications and new developments.