Understanding corneal crosslinking

Strengthening your cornea, stopping progression.

Corneal crosslinking is the breakthrough treatment for keratoconus — and the only one that actually stops the disease from progressing. A one-hour procedure can preserve your vision for decades.

What's happening

New bonds, stronger cornea.

Your cornea is made of collagen fibers in layers. In keratoconus, the bonds between these fibers weaken, letting the cornea bulge.

Crosslinking uses riboflavin (vitamin B2) drops plus UV light to create new chemical bonds between collagen fibers — essentially welding them together. The cornea becomes mechanically stronger. Progression halts in over 95% of cases.

What helps

Here's the plan —
and why it works.

Step 01

Epithelium removed

For epi-off, the top corneal layer is gently removed to let riboflavin soak in.

Step 02

Riboflavin drops

Vitamin B2 drops applied for ~30 minutes. The cornea takes on a yellow tint.

Step 03

UV light

10–30 minutes of precisely calibrated UV activates the crosslinking reaction.

Step 04

Healing

Bandage contact lens applied. Pain drops. 3–5 days for epithelium to grow back.

After your procedure

Expect discomfort days 1–4. Use drops as prescribed. Call us for severe worsening pain, decreased vision after day 5, or signs of infection like green discharge.

Common questions

Honest answers to common questions.

Will my vision get better?+

Progression stops — that's the main goal. Vision stays the same or improves slightly for most. Some patients see noticeable flattening of the cone over 1–2 years.

How long does the procedure take?+

About 60–90 minutes total. The riboflavin soaking phase takes 20–30 minutes, UV exposure 10–30 minutes, plus setup time.

How painful is recovery?+

With epi-off (standard), days 1–4 are tough — similar to PRK recovery. Burning, light sensitivity, pain drops needed. With epi-on, discomfort is much less but effect may be slightly less robust.

When will I know it worked?+

Full effect develops over 6–12 months. We track with corneal scans. The initial goal is stability; often we see actual flattening at 6-month and 1-year marks.

Can I still wear contacts?+

Not for the first month. After healing, many patients find scleral or hybrid lenses work beautifully on the stabilized cornea.