Corneal Collagen Cross-Linking (CXL)
in Los Angeles​

Free Consultation

At CCRS, patients with weak cornea can undergo this strengthening procedure to prevent vision loss. The FDA approved CXL in 2016 to treat conditions such as keratectasia, a weakened cornea following LASIK, and keratoconus, a naturally occurring unstable cornea.

During CXL, the cornea is illuminated with UV light after Riboflavin (Vitamin B) is applied. This process creates cross-linking bridges between the corneal fibers and strengthens the tissue. CXL can be done instead of corneal transplantation for a fraction of the cost at CCRS.

Procedures

Bladeless Wavefront
LASIK

Small Incision Lenticule
Extraction (SMILE)

Implantable Collamer
Lens (EVO ICL)

Refractive Cataract
Surgery

Refractive Lens
Exchange (RLE)

Contoura
LASIK (T-CAT)

Photorefractive
Keratectomy (PRK)

Corneal Collagen
Cross-Linking (CXL)

FAQ

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Corneal collagen cross-linking is a procedure done to strengthen a weakened cornea. Keratoconus is a genetic condition in which a cornea undergoes progressive weakening, and keratectasia is a corneal weakening caused by laser vision correction. These conditions can lead to a deterioration in vision. In corneal collagen cross-linking, the adjacent corneal fibrils are cross-linked to make the cornea more rigid and sturdy. This process has been shown to slow or prevent further weakening of the cornea.

Corneal cross-linking is a two-step process. The first step is the removal of the epithelium, the surface layer of the cornea. The second step is treatment with UV light while applying Riboflavin (Vitamin B). The entire process takes about two hours.

In the FDA study, corneal cross-linking was effective in preventing further weakening of the cornea and deterioration of vision. Some patients also have experienced an improvement in vision. At CCRS, we have observed a similar outcome, where in addition to the primary benefit of strengthening the cornea, some patients have experienced significant improvement in vision.

Yes, you are awake during the procedure. We numb your eye throughout the procedure with drops, so there is no pain. You can bring an earphone to listen to your favorite music.

Recovery from corneal cross-linking can take one to two weeks. Your vision will be blurry to varying degrees and will clear as you heal. Some people choose to do one eye at a time for this reason.

There is no pain during the procedure as your eye is kept numb. However, after your procedure, you may experience discomfort to varying degrees for the first few days. We will give you numbing drops and pain-relieving pills to help you during your recovery.