Keratoconus, corneal disease, treatment with corneal crosslinking shows promise. A new light-based technique that selectively stiffens tissue in the cornea may aid in treating keratoconus, which is caused by weakened corneal muscles.
A condition that causes vision distortion, keratoconus develops when the round cornea becomes thin and cone shaped. This abnormal change prevents the light from entering the eye, hindering the retina’s ability to focus and, thus, distorting the image.
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In healthy individuals, light travels through the cornea past the lens to the retina, allowing the brain to create an image. The corneal surface is normally smooth, so light can pass through with ease. Because of structural changes of shape and surface in keratoconus, the passing light is projected as a distorted image.
First author of the study Sheldon J.J. Kwok said, “Because light has the ability to probe deep inside tissue, we’re using that property to both go inside and change mechanical properties of tissue and to measure those changes so that we can understand how the tissue changed and visualize it noninvasively.”
“Right now, ultraviolet light is used to perform crosslinking across the entire cornea. However, this comes with a risk of damaging the innermost layer of the cornea, a complication that changes the corneal function and can cause it to become very hazy. There is also no way to predict whether the procedure will actually improve vision in a given patient,” added Seok-Hyun Yun, the research team lead.
The researchers wanted to see if they could control the area of the crosslinking in the cornea using two-photon absorption. Generally, the two-photon absorption-based technique is used to harden liquid resins for various optical and 3D structures. The present research used this technique to stiffen the corneal tissue in a specific area.
To test whether two-photon absorption could induce crosslinking, the scientists used a custom-made two-photon microscopy setup that delivers a specific kind of laser light through the objective lens. They placed a cornea sample under the lens, applied a light-sensitive dye to the tissue, and then turned on the laser light, focusing it to a specific layer.
The researchers found that exposing tissue to 200-milliwatt laser light for 10 minutes induced collagen crosslinking without damaging tissue. Yun explained, “If you can crosslink a specific part of the cornea, it might be possible to optimize the visual outcome. With two-photon absorption we can selectively choose and limit the depth of crosslinking to avoid cell damage both on the top and bottom layers of the cornea.”
This comes with a challenge: How do you verify if the crosslinking did occur? The collagen crosslinking brought on by two-photon absorption is not easily visualized with standard imaging methods. The team used a specialized technique called Brillouin microscopy that they developed earlier.
“We used Brillouin microscopy to validate that we can induce crosslinking in tissue and showed that the amount of crosslinking produced with two-photon adsorption is almost the same as what can be induced with the single-photon approach used today,” said Yun.
Additional studies are needed to verify the usefulness of this treatment for keratoconus and develop a better understanding of crosslinking and its effect on the cornea.
Other treatment options for keratoconus
Early treatment requires the use of prescription glasses or rigid contact lenses. There is a specific procedure known as phototherapeutic keratectomy, which helps smooth out the scars and improve contact lens wear.
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Another treatment involving collagen crosslinking is effective for preventing keratoconus progression. Implants called intacs are placed beneath the surface of the cornea to help reduce the cone shape and improve vision.
The last resort is cornea transplant, which replaces the patient’s cornea with a donor cornea that is stitched into place.
The type of treatment depends on the severity of keratoconus.
Mohan Garikiparithi got his degree in medicine from Osmania University (University of Health Sciences). He practiced clinical medicine for over a decade before he shifted his focus to the field of health communications. During his active practice he served as the head of the Dept. of Microbiology in a diagnostic centre in India. On a three-year communications program in Germany, Mohan developed a keen interest in German Medicine (Homoeopathy), and other alternative systems of medicine. He now advocates treating different medical conditions without the use of traditional drugs. An ardent squash player, Mohan believes in the importance of fitness and wellness.
