Keratoconus and Corneal Collagen Cross Linking
Keratoconus is a disease of the cornea in which the surface of the eye thins and distorts outwards into an irregular conical shape causes blurred vision and multiple images The condition is often corrected by contact lenses, or sometimes, in a small percentage of cases to the need for a corneal transplant. Corneal Collagen Cross Linking is an alternative treatment that is proving successful in treating the condition in some cases.
I should start by saying that while corneal collagen cross linking (or C3R) is proving to be an effective treatment in some cases, there are very much limits to when it proves useful.
It is useful when the disease is in its earlier stages, this is before the cornea becomes too distorted, because it helps to to make the cornea harder and this prevents the condition progressing . It is of much less use in more advanced cases because the distortion of the cornea is already too pronounced and halting the progress is not an effective way to restore vision.
Corneal Collagen Cross Linking for Keratoconus is a treatment that uses eye drops of riboflavin which is activated by ultra violet light.
The treatment is fairly quick and straightforward. The surface of the eye is surgically abraded to allow the riboflavin drops to be absorbed into the cornea itself.
The riboflavin drops are then applied and activated by a controlled exposure to ultraviolet light.
This treatment causes new bonds to form between the collagen links in the surface of the eye. This results in increased strength in the cornea, which in turn reduces the likelihood of the cornea distorting outward into the cone shape that is the main characteristic of Keratoconus.
While this may sound like the 'magic bullet' for treating Keratoconus it is important to recognise the limitations.
If the cornea already has a pronounced distortion then the treatment is unlikely to be effective.
If the cornea is scarred (either from contact lens abrasion or from corneal hydrops) then this treatment is of limited use.
In patients over around 40 years of age the treatment is not normally recommended as, by this age, the cornea is already stiffening on its own.
Having said that there are some success stories where the use of Corneal Collagen Cross Linking has proven effective, either on its own, or in conjunction to other treatments such as RGP contact lenses, Scleral contact lenses or Intacs (which are Corneal Ring segment inserts).
This treatment may be an option for you, depending on how advanced your Keratoconus is and the general health and stability of your cornea.
If it's not for you then there are many other options including various types of contact lenses, Intacs and Corneal transplants.
I should start by saying that while corneal collagen cross linking (or C3R) is proving to be an effective treatment in some cases, there are very much limits to when it proves useful.
It is useful when the disease is in its earlier stages, this is before the cornea becomes too distorted, because it helps to to make the cornea harder and this prevents the condition progressing . It is of much less use in more advanced cases because the distortion of the cornea is already too pronounced and halting the progress is not an effective way to restore vision.
Corneal Collagen Cross Linking for Keratoconus is a treatment that uses eye drops of riboflavin which is activated by ultra violet light.
The treatment is fairly quick and straightforward. The surface of the eye is surgically abraded to allow the riboflavin drops to be absorbed into the cornea itself.
The riboflavin drops are then applied and activated by a controlled exposure to ultraviolet light.
This treatment causes new bonds to form between the collagen links in the surface of the eye. This results in increased strength in the cornea, which in turn reduces the likelihood of the cornea distorting outward into the cone shape that is the main characteristic of Keratoconus.
While this may sound like the 'magic bullet' for treating Keratoconus it is important to recognise the limitations.
If the cornea already has a pronounced distortion then the treatment is unlikely to be effective.
If the cornea is scarred (either from contact lens abrasion or from corneal hydrops) then this treatment is of limited use.
In patients over around 40 years of age the treatment is not normally recommended as, by this age, the cornea is already stiffening on its own.
Having said that there are some success stories where the use of Corneal Collagen Cross Linking has proven effective, either on its own, or in conjunction to other treatments such as RGP contact lenses, Scleral contact lenses or Intacs (which are Corneal Ring segment inserts).
This treatment may be an option for you, depending on how advanced your Keratoconus is and the general health and stability of your cornea.
If it's not for you then there are many other options including various types of contact lenses, Intacs and Corneal transplants.
