Collagen Crosslinking for Refractory Infectious Keratitis

Dr. Ashraf El Habbak describes how crosslinking treatment can help prevent emergency keratoplasty in patients with refractory infectious keratitis. At AAO 2017, he presented findings from 10 patients with corneal ulcers who underwent 2 weeks of unsuccessful antibacterial or antifungal treatment. Subsequent exposure to ultraviolet light and crosslinking relieved the patients’ pain, improved their vision and resolved the ulcers. Dr. El Habbak explains that ultraviolet rays sterilize the ulcer, while crosslinking bolsters collagen bonds and renders the cornea more resistant to bacterial enzymes. His findings suggest that crosslinking is a useful adjuvant therapy for patients with drug-resistant keratitis.