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Corneal collagen crosslinking is a promising new treatment of progressive corneal ectasia. Its clinical use has been rapidly increasing since it was originally introduced in 1997 as the first treatment that can improve biomechanical stability of theweakened cornea. The method is based on the combined action of photosensitizer riboflavin (vitamin B2) and ultraviolet A light, which induce the formation of new covalent bonds between the collagen fibers. Our systematic search of literature in English has yielded only eight prospective trials with the efficiency and safety data published to date. However, all of the published studies reveal a halt in the progression or a slight improvement of corneal ectasia with the low complication and failure rates after the treatment. In this review we are highlighting the method’s history, scientific basis and its current clinical application in order to provide clinicians with the recent data on its benefits and potential risks.

Introduction: Ischemia, most often caused by carotid disease, contributes to or causes a numerous ocular changes including optic nerve and ganglion cell damage, glaucoma, anterior and posterior segment changes. The perimetric changes in ischemia partially overlap with those caused by glaucoma. New diagnostic tools such as scanning laser polarimetry can detect retinal nerve fiber layer loss in glaucoma up to 6 years earlier than the first perimetric changes. Still, it is not yet clear if and up to what level laser polarimetry can show changes in RNFL caused by ischemia only, and whether these changes differ from the pure glaucomatous ones. In our pilot study we tried to investigate influence of significant carotid stenosis on retinal nerve fiber layer. Materials and Methods: Eight consecutive patients with carotid stenosis of more than 70% and no other eye disease influencing optic nerve. Results: RNFL loss can be found in the most of analyzed patients. The level of the RNFL impairment is not equal in the both eyes of patients having a different degree of stenosis on two sides probably due to the factors such as microvascular status. Conclusion: RNFL suffers changes in carotid stenosis. The results demand further investigation because the possibility of the precise estimation of ischemical damage to the RNFL can be of crucial importance in diagnosing and treatment of patients having glaucoma and ocular ischemia at the same time.