Corneal intraocular pressure sensor and a surgical method using the same

A method of implanting a corneal intraocular pressure sensor in an eye of a patient, said method comprising:

• forming a pocket in the cornea of the eye so as to gain access to tissue surrounding the pocket;
• after the pocket in the cornea has been formed, applying a photosensitizer so that the photosensitizer permeates at least a portion of the tissue surrounding the pocket, the photosensitizer facilitating cross-linking of the tissue surrounding the pocket;
• irradiating the cornea so as to activate cross-linkers in the portion of the tissue surrounding the pocket, and thereby stiffen a wall of the pocket and kill cells in the portion of the tissue surrounding the pocket;
• and
• before or after the portion of the tissue surrounding the pocket has been stiffened and is devoid of cellular elements by the activation of the cross-linkers, inserting an intracorneal implant comprising a pressure sensor into the pocket, the pressure sensor of the intracorneal implant configured to measure the intraocular pressure of the eye of the patient.