An optimized treatment protocol, a miniaturized device that mounts on a slit lamp and a new photosensitizing agent may allow for a faster and more effective application of cross-linking for infectious keratitis in the near future.
Cross-linking for infectious keratitis, now called PACK-CXL for photoactivated chromophore for keratitis-CXL, disinfects the corneal surface via reactive oxygen species and increases the resistance to enzymatic digestion by modification of the collagen structure. PACK-CXL has been tested in a phase 2 randomized clinical trial, and results were recently published in Ophthalmology. Farhad Hafezi, MD, PhD, principal investigator, said at the Controversies in Ophthalmology meeting that the first results are encouraging. PACK-CXL has comparable efficacy to medications, a similar healing time and a lower complication rate.
