ULTRAVIOLET IRRADIATION TO TREAT CORNEAL WEAKNESS DISORDERS
Methods of strengthening the biomechanical properties of the cornea by exposing the cornea to ultraviolet light in the presence of a photoinitiator are described. These methods can be used to treat keratoconus. They can also be used to treat ectasia following a surgical procedure, or to strengthen the cornea prior to a surgical procedure.
1 . A method of treating keratoconus, comprising applying a photoinitiator to the keratoconic cornea and exposing the cornea to ultraviolet irradiation for a period of equal to or less than about 10 minutes.
2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the photoinitiator is chosen from sodium persulfate, potassium persulfate, ammonium persulfate, sodium thiosulfate, ferrous chloride tetrahydrate, or sodium bisulfate.
3 . The method of claim 2 , wherein the photoinitiator is sodium persulfate.
4 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the ultraviolet irradiation has a wave length in the range of about 254 nm to about 400 nm.
5 . The method of claim 4 , wherein the ultraviolet irradiation has a wave length of about 310 nm to about 400 nm.
6 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the intensity of the ultraviolet light is in the range of about 100 mW to about 1000 mW.
7 . The method of claim 6 , wherein the intensity of the ultraviolet light is about 1000 mW.
8 . The method of claim 1 , where in the period of exposure comprises from 1 to 4 bursts of ultraviolet light exposure, wherein each burst of ultraviolet exposure is about 10 seconds in duration and the period of non-ultraviolet exposure between each burst is about 10 seconds.
9 . The method of claim 8 , wherein the period of ultraviolet light exposure consists of a single exposure of about 10 seconds.
10 . A method of treating ectasia following a corneal surgery, comprising applying a photoinitiator to the ectasic cornea and exposing the cornea to ultraviolet irradiation for a period of equal to or less than about 10 minutes.
11 . The method of claim 10 , wherein the photoinitiator is chosen from sodium persulfate, potassium persulfate, ammonium persulfate, sodium thiosulfate, ferrous chloride tetrahydrate, or sodium bisulfate.
12 . The method of claim 11 , wherein the photoinitiator is sodium persulfate.
13 . The method of claim 10 , wherein the ultraviolet irradiation has a wave length in the range of about 254 nm to about 400 nm.
14 . The method of claim 13 , wherein the ultraviolet irradiation has a wave length of about 310 nm to about 400 nm.
15 . The method of claim 10 , wherein the intensity of the ultraviolet light is in the range of about 100 mW to about 1000 mW.
16 . The method of claim 15 , wherein the intensity of the ultraviolet light is about 1000 mW.
17 . The method of claim 10 , where in the period of exposure comprises from 1 to 4 bursts of ultraviolet light exposure, wherein each burst of ultraviolet exposure is about 10 seconds in duration and the period of non-ultraviolet exposure between each burst is about 10 seconds.
18 . The method of claim 17 , wherein the period of ultraviolet light exposure consists of a single exposure of about 10 seconds.
19 . The method of claim 10 , wherein the surgery is chosen from Laser Assisted In Situ Keratomielusis (“LASIK”), Laser Epithelium Keratomileusis (“E-LASIK”), Conductive Keratoplasty (“Radiofrequency energy”), or Microwave Thermokeratoplasty.
20 . The method of claim 19 , wherein the surgery is LASIK.
21 . A method of strengthening a cornea prior to a corneal surgery, comprising applying a photoinitiator to the cornea and exposing the cornea to ultraviolet irradiation for a period of equal to or less than about 10 minutes, followed by the corneal surgery.
22 . The method of claim 21 , wherein the photoinitiator is chosen from sodium persulfate, potassium persulfate, ammonium persulfate, sodium thiosulfate, ferrous chloride tetrahydrate, or sodium bisulfate.
23 . The method of claim 22 , wherein the photoinitiator is sodium persulfate.
24 . The method of claim 21 , wherein the ultraviolet irradiation has a wave length in the range of about 254 nm to about 400 nm.
25 . The method of claim 24 , wherein the ultraviolet irradiation has a wave length of about 310 nm to about 400 nm.
26 . The method of claim 21 , wherein the intensity of the ultraviolet light is in the range of about 100 mW to about 1000 mW.
27 . The method of claim 26 , wherein the intensity of the ultraviolet light is about 1000 mW.
28 . The method of claim 21 , where in the period of exposure comprises from 1 to 4 bursts of ultraviolet light exposure, wherein each burst of ultraviolet exposure is about 10 seconds in duration and the period of non-ultraviolet exposure between each burst is about 10 seconds.
29 . The method of claim 28 , wherein the period of ultraviolet light exposure consists of a single exposure of about 10 seconds.
30 . The method of claim 21 , wherein the surgery is chosen from Laser Assisted In Situ Keratomielusis (“LASIK”), Laser Epithelium Keratomileusis (“E-LASIK”), Conductive Keratoplasty (“Radiofrequency energy”), or Microwave Thermokeratoplasty.
31 . The method of claim 30 , wherein the surgery is LASIK.
32 . The method of claim 21 , wherein the ultraviolet irradiation treatment precedes the surgery by about one to two weeks.