What is corneal cross-linking?

It is a minimally invasive, outpatient procedure that combines the use of ultraviolet light and specially formulated eye drops to stiffen and strengthen the cornea that has been weakened by disease (e.g. keratoconus) or refractive surgery.

Who is a candidate for cross-linking? 

We don’t wait for a stroke or heart attack before treating high blood pressure or high cholesterol. Similarly, we want to treat keratoconus and corneal ectasia with cross-linking before there is vision loss. Because children and adolescents with keratoconus (KC) are highly likely to exhibit severe and rapid progression, CXL should be immediately considered upon diagnosis. It used to be thought that patients couldn’t lose vision from keratoconus after 40, but now corneal cross-linking should be considered no matter what age or level of vision.

Who performs corneal cross-linking? 

This varies by state, but in Colorado, corneal cross-linking is within the scope of practice of optometrists. Not many offices are equipped to perform corneal cross-linking in Colorado, and not all are able to use insurance for this treatment. We refer our patients to offices with trusted optometrists and ophthalmologists, and patients are able to receive post-operative care from our office.

Is corneal cross-linking covered by insurance? 

Not all corneal cross-linking procedures are the same. iLink is currently the only FDA-approved treatment for progressive keratoconus and corneal ectasia. The medical necessity of corneal cross-linking has become widely recognized and as a result, the procedure is covered by over 95% of commercial insurance providers. Additionally, non–FDA-approved cross-linking procedures may be associated with greater out-of-pocket costs.

Will cross-linking affect my vision?

Your cornea may experience some minor flattening and change shape, possibly causing your vision to fluctuate as your eye heals. Your eye doctor will let you know if an updated glasses or contact lens prescription is recommended to optimize functional vision.

Crosslinking Resources