Corneal cross-linking (CXL) is an exciting new treatment modality available in veterinary ophthalmology. Studies into the use of CXL started in the late 1990s in human ophthalmology and the technique is now in widespread use in the human field.
The stroma of the normal cornea is comprised predominantly of collagen fibrils arranged in parallel bundles. There is a natural degree of “cross-linking” between adjacent collagen fibrils; these cross-links are covalent bonds that “anchor” the fibrils together, improving the biomechanical stability of the cornea. An increase in corneal cross-linking occurs naturally with age.
The aim of medical CXL is to increase the number of covalent bonds between the collagen fibrils – this is achieved by exposing riboflavin (vitamin B2) soaked collagen to ultraviolet light, thus inducing bonds to form. The riboflavin acts as a photosensitiser when exposed to UV-A light, with a wavelength at the riboflavin absorption peak of 370nm. Free oxygen radicals are generated, resulting in a photopolymerisation process, which introduces the additional cross-links within and between collagen fibres up to a depth of 300μm.
With increasing cross-linking, the treated corneas are stiffer and more resistant to enzymatic digestion (increased biomechanical and biochemical stability). Additionally, there is reactive oxygen species-induced damage to micro-organisms in the irradiated area.
The technique is used primarily to treat keratoconus in people. At Moorfields Eye Hospital, for example, many patients have been treated with great success – of 4,620 treatments performed, only two eyes went on to require corneal transplants. Prior to the availability of CXL, 20 percent of patients with keratoconus would eventually require a corneal transplant. However, there has also been some research into the use of CXL as an adjuvant treatment to treat infectious, melting keratitis.
It is this later use that is of most interest in veterinary ophthalmology. Several studies have highlighted CXL efficacy at arresting corneal melting in companion animals and, with drug-resistant microorganisms becoming an increasing problem, the antimicrobial effects of CXL may become more important in the future. Several studies in the veterinary literature have shown that CXL is effective at arresting corneal melting and stabilising the cornea.
The mainstay of therapy for deep stromal corneal ulcers has, for many years, been corneal grafting procedures. Conventional wisdom suggests that any ulcer that extends to more than 50 percent of corneal depth should receive a graft of some sort. More recently, however, some veterinary ophthalmologists have advocated medical management for even very deep corneal ulcers, and occasionally small descemetocoeles. While appropriate case selection of which ulcers to treat medically or surgically is crucial (being a combination of science and art), if a cornea is allowed to heal without surgical intervention, the visual outcome (in terms of corneal scarring) is often much better. CXL is proving to be a very useful tool in the management of ulcers.
While the treatment of corneal ulcers via CXL is currently the main usage, there are potential applications for other corneal disease, such as endothelial dystrophy, which results in progressive corneal oedema. Early results using CXL to treat this disease showed only a transitory improvement. However, as our understanding improves and the technique is refined, better results are likely in the future.
BASIC PROTOCOL FOR CXL USING THE PESCHKE VET SYSTEM:
- Sedate or anaesthetise patient.
- Apply riboflavin to cornea: one drop every two minutes for 15 to 20 minutes (to saturate cornea) (Figure 1).
- Inspect anterior chamber for yellow discolouration (indicates good saturation of cornea with riboflavin – apply more drops if insufficient saturation).
- Insert eyelid speculum.
- Rinse cornea with saline to remove excess riboflavin (to avoid riboflavin shielding).
- Set UV power – 45mW/cm2.
- Turn on CXL system, focus beam on cornea (45 to 55mm distance between CXL unit and eye) (Figure 2).
- Adjust beam diameter to irradiate desired area.
- Illuminate cornea for two minutes (unit will automatically stop) (Figure 3).
- Continue medical treatment (eg topical chloramphenicol, atropine or serum, as clinically indicated).
- Monitor carefully while healing takes place.
