Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40054831›Full record

ReviewExperimental eye research2025

Riboflavin-UV crosslinking of the cornea: Wound healing and biomechanics.

Brecken Blackburn, Barbara A L Dutra, Bassel Hammoud, Giuliano Scarcelli, William J Dupps, J Bradley Randleman, Steven E Wilson

Abstract readReview
PubMed Full text at PMC Publisher
In one paragraph

Review in Experimental eye research, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

1 citing paper in PubMed.

  1. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

7 authors.

Brecken BlackburnDepartment of Biomedical Engineering, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH, USA.
Barbara A L DutraCole Eye Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH, USA; Department of Ophthalmology, University of Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo, Brazil.
Bassel HammoudCole Eye Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH, USA.
Giuliano ScarcelliFischell Department of Bioengineering, University of Maryland, College Park, MD, USA.
William J DuppsDepartment of Biomedical Engineering, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH, USA; Cole Eye Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH, USA; Cleveland Clinic Lerner College of Medicine of Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH, USA.
J Bradley RandlemanCole Eye Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH, USA; Cleveland Clinic Lerner College of Medicine of Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH, USA.
Steven E WilsonCole Eye Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH, USA. Electronic address: wilsons4@ccf.org.

Funding

Cornea biomechanical analysis with Brillouin microscopyR01EY028666 · NEI · UNIV OF MARYLAND, COLLEGE PARK · PI James Bradley Randleman, Giuliano Scarcelli · 2018 to 2026
$4.1M
Determining the Efficacy of Corneal Cross-Linking Protocols using Brillouin MicroscopyR01EY032537 · NEI · CLEVELAND CLINIC LERNER COM-CWRU · PI DUPPS, WILLIAM JOSEPH, RANDLEMAN, JAMES BRADLEY · 2022 to 2025
$1.6M
NEI NIH HHS R01 EY028666NEI NIH HHS R01 EY032537
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

The corneal wound healing response to Riboflavin-ultraviolet-crosslinking (RIB-UV-CXL) depends on the specific method used in treatment. The predominance of clinical evidence supports the classical "epithelium-off" RIB-UV-CXL method being more effective in halting ectasia progression than various "epithelium-on" methods, where the corneal epithelium is maintained intact. Corneal transparency results from the precise organization of collagen fibrils and extracellular matrix, along with transparent keratocytes. The mild and transient stromal opacity seen after standard RIB-UV-CXL is linked to changes in hydration, cellularity, and matrix composition. As hydration normalizes, opacity arises from the development of corneal fibroblasts and their secretion of disordered extracellular matrix materials including collagens. Over months, as the epithelial basement membrane regenerates, transitioning stromal cells either undergo apoptosis or revert to keratocan-positive keratocytes, restoring stromal transparency. In normal healing after standard RIB-UV-CXL, the stroma is eventually repopulated predominantly by keratocytes without significant persisting fibroblasts, immune cells, or myofibroblasts. Biomechanical studies have extensively explored how CXL strengthens corneal tissue, providing insight into its therapeutic mechanisms. The purpose of this review is to evaluate the wound healing response and biomechanical changes in the cornea following RIB-UV-CXL.

Indexed as

CorneaCross-Linking ReagentsKeratoconusPhotochemotherapyPhotosensitizing AgentsRiboflavinWound HealingAnimalsBiomechanical PhenomenaCollagenCorneal StromaHumansUltraviolet RaysCollagenCross-Linking ReagentsPhotosensitizing AgentsRiboflavinCorneal biomechanicalCorneal wound healingCrosslinkingRiboflavin

Identifiers

PMID40054831
PMCPMC13173692

What OpenQuestion holds

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Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.