Tear film mediators after corneal cross‐linking

our Saved 1 min 28 sec speaking time Currently, the gold‐standard treatment of progressive keratoconus (KC) is corneal collagen cross‐linking (CXL), in which riboflavin and ultraviolet‐A radiation increase the corneal biomechanical rigidity, arresting progression. This project aims to find biomarkers that could explain the variability within surgical results after corneal CXL by investigating the correlation between the local corneal inflammatory environment and these results. Optimize the patients' surgical outcomes according to their corneal inflammatory environment. Tear film analysis poses several challenges concerning the small amount of material available without reflex production. This fact precludes the use of conventional ELISA, requiring multiplex-modified technology. When dealing with tears, it is also essential to avoid contamination by using sterilized material to avoid dilution and to establish an efficient flow of samples from the clinic to the laboratory. This pilot study identified several methodological frailties and established a solid research protocol that other researchers can replicate. Understanding the correlation between inflammatory cytokines and surgical outcomes of CXL may allow for the optimization and personalization of CXL. In addition, the results of this research protocol are expected to establish prognostic factors for CXL‐related surgical outcomes, ultimately improving the quality of life of KC patients.