Healio/Ocular Surgery News recently featured Dr. Emilio Torres-Netto, MD, PhD, FWCRS, a cataract and refractive surgeon at the ELZA Institute in Zurich, Switzerland, in a video interview at the 2024 ESCRS in Barcelona. During the interview, Dr. Torres-Netto outlined advancements in corneal cross-linking, specifically the ELZA-STARK (Selective Treatment of Astigmatism in Radial Keratotomy) procedure.
Dr. Torres-Netto explained how ELZA-STARK is used to address astigmatism in patients with a history of radial keratotomy (RK). This selective cross-linking approach is applied after a round PTK to the cornea’s periphery, aiding in steepening the flattened central cornea commonly seen post-RK. The process aims to improve the cornea’s stability and refractive outcomes for these patients.
He emphasized the importance of the optical zone size and the UV light’s fluence, both critical to the procedure’s success. Additionally, Dr. Torres-Netto noted the unique demarcation lines in the cornea’s periphery observed post-treatment, signifying the effective flattening of the peripheral cornea and the steepening of the central region.
The ELZA-STARK procedure, implemented since 2021, marks a significant development in in treating the progressive flattening that occurs in a significant proportion of patients after RK surgery. As discussed in the interview, these advancements are part of a general trend of CXL being used in a more tailored approach to help treat several corneal diseases and disorders.
