Corneal crosslinking is the process of stiffening and strengthening the collagen fibers of the cornea. Stiff, strong collagen fibers provide structural support to the cornea to help it retain its normal round shape. If the collagen fibers lose their strength, the cornea can thin and bulge outward in a cone-like shape.
During a crosslinking procedure, a concentrated riboflavin solution is applied to the corneal tissue and activated with a special ultraviolet light. This combination stimulates the production of new crosslinks in the collagen fibers; with new crosslinks, the collagen fibers become stronger and stiffer.
Corneal crosslinking during LASIK is very similar to corneal crosslinking for keratoconus, with a few minor exceptions, such as total treatment time.