Corneal crosslinking: Riboflavin concentration in corneal stroma exposed with and without epithelium

The HPLC quantitative study showed that stromal concentrations of riboflavin increased with exposure time only if the epithelium was removed. A theoretically safe and effective riboflavin concentration of 15 μg/g was obtained for ultraviolet A-induced CXL only after the epithelium was removed and after at least 10 minutes of riboflavin application every 2 minutes.