Dr. Rubinfeld notes that cross-linking does improve vision in a number of patients. “We've found that about 50 percent of the time patients achieve a significant improvement in vision,” he says. “Nearly all studies have found some improvement in corneal curvature and some flattening after cross-linking.

How successful is cross-linking?

How effective is corneal cross-linking? It is very effective – the success rate is more than 95% for an 'epi-off' treatment. In the remaining 5% of patients where there is further progression or change, a second treatment may be required.

Is corneal cross-linking effective?

It is now widely agreed that corneal collagen cross-linking (CXL) is the only effective treatment for keratoconus because of its ability to halt the pathological progression of the disease. It has also been suggested that standard CXL may have an additional but unpredictable refractive effect.