Femtosecond laser finds new role for assisting cornea collagen cross-linking

Article

Creation of a pocket for intracorneal riboflavin instillation using the femtosecond laser (IntraLase, Advanced Medical Optics) appears to be a safe and effective method for assisting cornea collagen cross-linking.

Creation of a pocket for intracorneal riboflavin instillation using the femtosecond laser (IntraLase, Advanced Medical Optics) appears to be a safe and effective method for assisting cornea collagen cross-linking, said A. John Kanellopoulos, MD, at Refractive Surgery Subspecialty Day.

The technique, which Dr. Kanellopoulos has dubbed the "i-cornea tan," involves use of the laser to cut a 7-mm pocket at 100 µm corneal depth with a side cut of just 5 degrees. Then an air cannula is introduced into the pocket to instill the riboflavin 0.1% solution prior to UVA irradiation.

Dr. Kanellopoulos, medical director, Laservision Institute, Athens, Greece, reported using this procedure in 10 keratoconic eyes. Outcomes for mean reduction in keratometry and sphere achieved were comparable to those observed in eyes treated with the standard crosslinking technique. However, the new procedure was much more comfortable and associated with more rapid visual rehabilitation, he said. Endothelial cell counts were unchanged, and Dr. Kanellopoulos pointed out that the pocket creation does not have any adverse biomechanical effect on the cornea due to the minimal side cut.

"This technique provides a method for targeted delivery of riboflavin into the cornea at the depths where it is needed for crosslinking, and has several other advantages for the patient. Our initial experience must be validated with further studies and longer follow-up," Dr. Kanellopoulos said. "However, we believe this method has the potential to become the paradigm for preventing corneal transplantation in eyes with corneal ectasia."

Newsletter

Join ophthalmologists across Europe—sign up for exclusive updates and innovations in surgical techniques and clinical care.

Recent Videos
Christine Curcio, PhD, of the University of Alabama at Birmingham Heersink School of Medicine, shares histology update and revised nomenclature for OCT with Sheryl Stevenson of the Eye Care Network and Ophthalmology Times
SriniVas R. Sadda, MD, FARVO, shares key points from his retina presentation at the International SPECTRALIS Symposium
Robert Sergott, MD, describes fluorescence lifetime imaging ophthalmoscopy (FLIO) and the International SPECTRALIS Symposium – And Beyond (ISS) in Heidelberg, Germany.
Rayaz Malik, MBChB, PhD, a professor of medicine at Weill Cornell Medicine - Qatar, spoke with Ophthalmology Times Europe about his presentation. It's titled "An eye on neurodegenerative diseases: Challenging the dogma" at the International SPECTRALIS Sympsoium. In conversation with Hattie Hayes, Ophthalmology Times Europe
Anat Loewenstein, MD, describes her presentation on remote imaging for age-related macular degeneration and geographic atrophy at the International SPECTRALIS Symposium, in conversation with Hattie Hayes of Ophthalmology Times Europe
Tyson Brunstetter, OD, PhD, a US Navy Aerospace Optometrist at the NASA Johnson Space Center in Houston, Texas, shares key takeaways from his keynote at the International SPECTRALIS Symposium (ISS)
Rayaz Malik, MBChB, PhD, shares his presentation, titled An eye on neurodegenerative diseases: Challenging the dogma, at this year's International SPECTRALIS Symposium
At the Retina World Congress, Siegfried Priglinger, MD, speaks about ensuring the best outcomes for preschool-aged patients
At the 2025 ASCRS meeting, Robert Ang, MD said small aperture IOLs can benefit all patients, especially those with complex corneas or who have undergone previous corneal refractive surgery
Viha Vig, MBChB graduate student at the University of Auckland, New Zealand, discusses her poster presentation on the relationship between mitochondiral disease, Alzheimer disease, and other types of dementia.
© 2025 MJH Life Sciences

All rights reserved.