A method of intracorneal lens implantation with a cross-linked cornea is disclosed herein. The method includes forming a pocket in a cornea of an eye, applying a photosensitizer inside the pocket so that the photosensitizer permeates at least a portion of the tissue bounding the pocket, the photosensitizer facilitating cross-linking of the tissue bounding the pocket； irradiating the cornea so as to activate cross-linkers in the portion of the tissue bounding the pocket, and thereby kill cells therein； inserting a lens implant into the pocket； and applying laser energy to the lens implant in the pocket using a laser so as to correct refractive errors of the lens implant and/or the eye in a non-invasive manner. In other embodiments, a lens implant is soaked in a cross-linking solution that includes a photosensitizer prior to being inserted into the pocket in the cornea of an eye.
