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Cross-linking of the cornea is a new curative approach to re-increase the mechanical stability of corneal tissue that is progressively decreasing as a result of a corneal disease such as keratoconus or pellucid marginal degeneration. The new procedure that was developed by IROC co-founder Prof. Theo Seiler together with Prof. Eberhard Spoerl from Dresden is expected to minimize the need for invasive corneal transplantation.

Transplantation of corneal tissue (keratoplasty) is the most frequent type of organ transplantation with more than 40'000 interventions per year in the US and Europe.

The number of available donor corneas is significantly lower than the corresponding demand in the clinics - in germany alone thousands of patients are waiting for a replacement of their diseased cornea each year. Furthermore, corneal transplantation is known to be associated with a number of complications such as adverse immune reactions, chronical loss of endothelial cells or permanent clouding of the corneal transplant. Most of the patients who had to undergo corneal transplantation suffer from highly irregular post-operative corneal surfaces rendering them incapable of working for several months.

The aim of the new treatment is to create additional chemical bonds inside the weakened corneal stroma by means of highly localized photo-polymerization. Consequently, the biomechanical stability of the tissue is re-increased and corneal transplantation can be avoided.

The indications for cross-linking today are corneal ectasia disorders such as keratoconus and pellucid marginal degeneration, iatrogenic keratectasia after refractive lamellar surgery, and corneal melting that is not responding to conventional therapy.