Treatments
Crosslinking
Crosslinking strengthens the corneal layer that weakens and bulges forward in keratoconus. Riboflavin drops are applied and UV-A light is delivered; no incision is made, only the surface layer is removed, and the aim is to stop the progression.
- Kudret Eye Istanbul
- Last updated:
- 3 min read
- Medically reviewed by Op. Dr. Mehmet Ali Özdil

What is Crosslinking Treatment?
In the treatment of keratoconus, crosslinking is a treatment method in which UV-A light is applied to the cornea. No incision is made; only the surface layer is removed. In keratoconus patients, UV-A light is sent to the corneal layer, which is weak and sagging forward, for 10-30 minutes (depending on the protocol) after dropping riboflavin. After this treatment, the cross-links in the corneal layer are strengthened. In keratoconus patients who present with an increase in their glasses prescription, it is aimed to stop the increase after crosslinking.
Can Crosslinking Treatment be applied together with Corneal Ring Implantation or Corneal Transplantation?
Yes, it can be applied. Crosslinking treatment can be applied before or after corneal ring implantation and after corneal transplantation.
How Much Is Crosslinking Treatment Price?
Crosslinking treatment prices vary according to the underlying cause, special examination and detailed measurements to be made to your eye depending on the operation to be performed. The treatment plan to be created by our specialist ophthalmologist depending on the detailed examination results may vary from person to person.
Who Is Crosslinking For?
Crosslinking is used in eyes where keratoconus has been shown to be progressing. Progression is established by comparing corneal topography measurements taken months apart; a single measurement does not show it. The condition usually advances during the teenage and young adult years, which is when treatment most often comes up.
Corneal thickness has to be above a certain limit for the procedure to be possible. A cornea that has thinned too far, an eye with an active infection, or a cornea that has lost its clarity may not be suitable. That assessment is made with the measurements taken before surgery.
How Is Crosslinking Performed?
The procedure is done under anaesthetic drops. You stay awake and no general anaesthetic is needed. Riboflavin, which is vitamin B2, is applied to the surface of the cornea; once the cornea has absorbed it, the eye is exposed to controlled ultraviolet light. Together, the light and the riboflavin create new bonds between the corneal fibres and the tissue stiffens.
The UV application takes 10-30 minutes per eye, depending on the protocol. A protective bandage contact lens is placed at the end and you go home the same day.
Recovery After Crosslinking
The first days are less comfortable than after other corneal procedures: stinging, light sensitivity and watering are expected. The bandage contact lens is removed by your surgeon once the surface has closed. Do not remove it yourself.
Vision can stay blurred through the first weeks and takes time to clear. Your drop schedule and check-up dates follow the timetable your surgeon gives you.
Does Crosslinking Improve Vision?
The aim of crosslinking is not to improve vision but to stop keratoconus from progressing. In some patients the shape of the cornea improves somewhat over time, but that is not the goal of the treatment and it does not happen in every eye.
For that reason glasses, contact lenses or an intracorneal ring may still be considered after crosslinking to correct vision. Which of those suits you is decided together with the measurements taken after surgery.
Risks and Possible Side Effects
Crosslinking is a low-risk treatment used to halt the progression of keratoconus. Most side effects are limited to the first few days:
- Stinging, watering and light sensitivity for the first 2-3 days: expected while the corneal surface heals, and eased by a bandage contact lens, drops and painkillers.
- Temporarily blurred vision or corneal haze: fades over weeks or months.
- Infection: very rare; following the drop and bandage lens instructions until the surface has healed keeps this to a minimum.
- Progression not halted: uncommon; if check-ups show continued progression, the treatment can be reconsidered.
Why choose Kudret Eye İstanbul for your procedure?
Over 24 years in eye care: three eye hospitals and a general hospital, a team of specialist surgeons and technology renewed every year.
Over 24 years of experience
Hundreds of thousands of successful operations and a name trusted across generations.
The latest technology
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Specialist surgeons
Every treatment is performed by a surgeon who specialises in it.
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Follow-up checks and, if ever needed, enhancement are our responsibility.
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References
- 1.Photochemical corneal collagen cross-linkage using riboflavin and ultraviolet A for keratoconus and keratectasia (IPG466) · NICE, 2013
- 2.Corneal Cross-Linking · EyeWiki
- 3.Keratoconus · Moorfields