Prof. Farhad Hafezi explains the relationship between CXL and oxygen
Corneal cross-linking has evolved in the past years from a “simple” procedure to a more complex one, with many possibilities and several different indications.
But at the same time, the surgeon has an ever-increasing number of factors that need to be considered when choosing the right treatment for each patient. These include irradiation time, irradiation intensity, fluence, whether to use pulsed or continuous light, and for newer epi-on protocols, whether or not iontophoresis should be used or penetration enhancers, and whether oxygen goggles are necessary.
It turns out that the relationship between CXL and oxygen is central to how cross-linking works in the cornea. During CXL, oxygen is central and the rate-limiting step in the cross-linking reaction. Understanding the relationship between CXL and oxygen is central to understanding how effective modern cross-linking approaches will be, and therefore a central consideration when selecting the right protocol to treat your patient.
Professor Farhad Hafezi from the ELZA Institute has prepared a presentation that provides a comprehensive overview of how oxygen concentration is at the center of all these decisions.
After viewing this video, you will have a better understanding of the relationship between oxygen and all the other factors that influence the corneal cross-linking reaction.
