The effects of corneal cross-linking on intraocular pressure measurement in keratoconus

Cross-linking (CXL) is a technique whose design aims to achieve a specific goal: to harden the corneal tissue of eyes with a progressive form of keratoconus. Other indications are being investigated, such as treatment of infectious keratitis and prevention of corneal ectasia post corneal ablative refractive surgery. Hardening the cornea means changing its biomechanical properties. The existence of true corneal hardening after CXL would inevitably result in an increase in measured intraocular pressure (IOP). This would have a considerable impact in the screening and follow-up of glaucoma patients who have undergone cross-linking because of the central role of IOP measurement in glaucomatous pathology.