What is Keratoconus?

Keratoconus is a unique corneal disease which usually affects youngsters in their teens. Cornea becomes thinner, conical and astigmatic due to weakness of the collagen layer. Vision deteriorates faster affecting the quality of life. It is estimated that Keratoconus affects 1 in 2000 individuals.

Symptoms

Eye Strain & Headache

Blurry vision, seeing Ghost images or shadows beside the objects

Frequent change in spectacle power, Jump in Cylindrical power

Poor vision even with glasses or Contact lenses

The diagnosis is confirmed by Topography and other clinical tests. In early stages vision can be improved with Spectacles and Rigid Gas Permeable Contact Lenses. However, in advanced stages corneal Transplant Surgery may be needed to improve the eye sight.

In Keratoconus, essentially basic defect is weakness of corneal collagen. Corneal collagen crosslinking-CXL or C3R addresses this main issue. However, this procedure is applicable only in early to moderate progression of the disease. The cornea should be adequately thick to receive this procedure. Therefore, an early diagnosis of Keratoconus will enable one to avail better and safer modality of treatment.

What is Corneal Collagen Cross-Linking - C3R ?

Collagen cross linking of cornea with Riboflavin( C3R) is the latest revolutionary treatment for keratoconus. This procedure has been proven to strengthen the weak corneal structure by increasing cross links between collagen fibres of the cornea which are basically anchoring fibrils between two layers. It causes the collagen fibrils to thicken, stiffen and crosslink to reattach to each other making the cornea stronger and more stable.

Which cases can undergo this procedure ?

Keratoconus

Post Lasik Keratoectasia

Pellucid Marginal Corneal Degeneration

Cross-linking is a medical procedure that combines the use of ultra-violet light and riboflavin eye drops.   In a cross-linking procedure, Riboflavin (vitamin B2) is dripped onto the cornea and then exposed to ultra violet light. The light causes the riboflavin to fluoresce, which leads to the formation of bonds between collagen molecules or collagen cross-linking.The Avedro KXL Accelerated Cross-linking procedure is performed in minutes, while traditional procedures typically take one hour.

Recently the ophthalmology community has seen a marked increase in the prominence of corneal collagen cross-linking as a treatment strategy for progressive keratoconus and post-lasik ectasia. This interest has arisen from a body of evidence documenting the biomechanical and cellular changes induced by cross-linking. The findings of this research provide a rationale for its use in keratoconus to retard the progression of this disease.  A rapidly growing number of clinical reports suggest a consistent stabilizing effect of cross-linking along with a variable improvement in corneal shape and visual function in some patients[1]. As a first-line treatment the greatest aim of cross-linking is to reduce and stop keratoconus in the early phase of the condition, and to treat the progressive vision loss that occurs which can lead to corneal transplantation.