Strengthening Your Cornea for Greater Long-Term Stability After Laser Vision Correction
Laser vision correction procedures such as LASIK, SMILE® pro 2.0, and TransPRK reshape the cornea to correct short-sightedness (myopia), long-sightedness (hyperopia), and astigmatism. While these procedures are safe and effective for suitable candidates, reshaping the cornea also removes a small amount of corneal tissue.
Xtra is an additional corneal strengthening treatment that can be performed immediately after laser vision correction in selected patients. It combines riboflavin (vitamin B2) eye drops with controlled UV-A light to create new natural bonds between collagen fibres inside the cornea. This process, known as corneal cross-linking (CXL), increases the biomechanical strength of the cornea and helps reduce the risk of future corneal weakening (ectasia).
Xtra uses a well-established scientific principle called collagen cross-linking.
The treatment involves four simple steps:
Unlike laser vision correction, Xtra does not improve your spectacle prescription. Instead, it acts as an extra layer of protection for the structural integrity of the cornea.
The goal of Xtra is to increase long-term corneal stability in patients who may have a higher chance of corneal weakening after laser vision correction.
Your ophthalmologist may recommend Xtra if you have:
Not every patient requires Xtra. It is recommended only after a comprehensive assessment of your eyes.
Xtra can be performed together with several laser vision correction procedures, including:
The strengthening treatment is performed during the same surgical session, so no separate procedure or additional visit is usually required.
Potential benefits include:
Although Xtra provides additional reinforcement, it does not eliminate every risk associated with laser vision correction. Individual results vary depending on each patient’s eye condition.
Xtra adds only a few minutes to your laser vision correction procedure.
After the laser treatment:
1. Riboflavin eye drops are applied.
2. The cornea is allowed to absorb the solution.
3. UV-A light is delivered for a carefully calculated duration.
4. The treatment is completed before your procedure finishes.
Your surgeon customises the treatment parameters according to your corneal measurements.
Recovery is generally similar to your chosen laser vision correction procedure, although some patients may experience:
The haze is expected during the natural healing process and usually resolves as the cornea remodels.
Your surgeon will prescribe medicated eye drops and arrange follow-up visits to monitor healing.
When performed on appropriately selected patients by experienced ophthalmologists, Xtra has an excellent safety profile. The most important factor is careful patient selection. Before recommending Xtra, your surgeon performs detailed corneal mapping and assesses whether your cornea has sufficient thickness and healthy tissue to safely undergo both laser vision correction and cross-linking.
No. Xtra does not correct your spectacle prescription. Its purpose is to strengthen the cornea after laser vision correction.
No. Most patients undergoing laser vision correction do not require Xtra. It is recommended only for patients who may benefit from additional corneal reinforcement based on their individual risk profile.
Yes, but only by a few minutes. The strengthening treatment is performed during the same surgical session.
Yes. Xtra can be performed alongside SMILE® pro, FemtoLASIK and TransPRK when clinically indicated.
No. Traditional corneal cross-linking is primarily used to treat progressive keratoconus or corneal ectasia. Xtra is a modified, accelerated cross-linking protocol used as an adjunct to laser vision correction to reinforce the cornea in carefully selected patients.
