Abstract:

The cornea acts as the outermost shell of the eye with elasticity and viscosity. The biomechanical properties of the collagen fibers in the corneal stroma are important for maintaining the intrinsic morphology of the eyeball and protecting the inner structure. The main pathological changes of keratoconus was the corneal stroma thinning, Bowman membrane rupture and the iron deposit in the basal membrane of the corneal epithelium. Influenced by the long-term high intraocular pressure, the function of corneal transparent pump function and barrier is significantly affected, resulting in the collagen fibrous edema. Refractive surgery mainly aims at corneal stroma ablation, resulting the thinning of corneal thickness and destruction of collagen fiber morphology. Mechanical damage, such as ultrasonic energy, liquid perfusion and lens nucleus collision usually causes corneal injury in phacoemulsification. The above-mentioned changes lead to the reduction of corneal biomechanics. With the application of corneal collagen cross-linking in clinical work, it has been proved to be the most commonly used way to improve corneal biomechanical properties.(Int Rev Ophthalmol,  2017,  41:   409-413)