Do You Know About Corneal Cross-Linking for Keratoconus?

Corneal cross-linking is a procedure that strengthens the tissues in your cornea in order to prevent further deterioration from keratoconus. Learn more about this surgery and to find out if you may be a good candidate for corneal cross-linking.

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Do You Know About Corneal Cross-Linking for Keratoconus? in PRIMARYCITY

What is Corneal Cross-Linking for Keratoconus?

The following article discusses the benefits of corneal cross-linking for people with moderate keratoconus.

Corneal collagen cross-linking is a medical procedure to treat progressive keratoconus, a degenerative eye disease that causes thinning and distortion of the cornea, leading to impaired vision. While usually affecting both eyes, it is not uncommon for one eye to degenerate faster. It involves a treatment of riboflavin eye drops and UV light to prevent further corneal deterioration.

Human corneas are normally spherical in shape. With this condition, the corneas bulge outward becoming more cone-like. As the condition degenerates, complications with vision increase. Fortunately, with proper treatment, there is minimal risk of a total loss of vision. The following section will discuss:

the kind of patient that this surgery is appropriate for
what to expect during this procedure
what to expect after surgery

Which Keratoconus Patients Are Candidates for Cross-linking?

Cross-linking is suited for those patients where corneal alterations are minimal. If vision losses are severe or the cornea has drastically changed shape from advanced keratoconus, this intervention may cease to be an option. The purpose is to slow the progression of keratoconus. Your doctor will first have to assess overall eye health and measure corneal thickness to determine if you are a candidate. Topography of the cornea is a form of mapping to determine if the procedure is suitable.

Treatment of Keratoconus: What Happens During Surgery?

The surgery should take approximately 1 hour to complete and is usually performed with mild sedative and numbing eye drops. In cases where both eyes require the procedure, the standard practice is to work on one eye and then continue with the other eye when the patient recovers.

The process involves a treatment where the patient's eye is saturated with riboflavin solution eye drops and treated with UV light to strengthen collagen fibers in the eye. The purpose of corneal cross-linking is to prevent further changes to the shape of the cornea and to slow down additional vision loss. An added advantage is that clinical studies show that it may prevent the need for corneal transplantation.

Treatment of Keratoconus: What Happens During Surgery?

What Can I Expect Post Surgery?

Common post-surgery symptoms for patients include:

irritation to light
dry eyes
Minor discomfort or pain
a gritty feeling

Contact your eye doctor if you experience severe pain or other symptoms that suggest infection or other complications after the surgery. Speak to your doctor about the available post-operation options to treat pain and discomfort. Always remember to refrain from rubbing your eyes or touching the area in general.

Common Questions

Does a corneal cross-linking procedure hurt?

Although it varies, many keratoconus patients report that the procedure is not painful. Complaints about pain following surgery are more common. Contact your doctor right away if the pain is severe.

Is a cross-linking procedure the same as corneal transplant surgery?

Cross-linking is an outpatient procedure and it does not involve surgical incisions. It is designed to slow down the progression of keratoconus using a combination of UV light and riboflavin, provided that the patient retains adequate corneal thickness. It is regarded as minimally invasive and low risk. Corneal transplant surgery is a proper medical operation, with the possibility of corneal rejection as with any medical transplant.

What is Riboflavin?

Riboflavin is a water soluble vitamin also known as Vitamin B2. It has two benefits: Absorbing most of the UV radiation and acting as a photosensitizer.

Will my health insurance cover the cost of this procedure?

Always speak with your medical provider for all questions involving protocols and policy.

Summary

Corneal collagen cross-linking is a unique intervention for moderate cases of progressive keratoconus where the cornea retains requisite thickness for the surgery. It is only effective for a patient who has not sustained significant vision loss or significant corneal alterations. With advanced keratoconus, this may no longer be a viable option. It is not a cure or a procedure to fix the condition. It prevents the condition from degrading.

Cross-linking involves a unique treatment where riboflavin eye drops and Ultraviolet light are utilized to prevent further deterioration of the cornea and to slow down visual deficits. Speak with your eye doctor if you have keratoconus and would like to find out more about this procedure. You can schedule an eye exam with our eye doctor by calling 111-222-3333. Patients searching for advanced treatment for keratoconus visit our clinic from all over STATE, and we are proud to be a leading provider of medical eye care services for patients from CITY, SECONDARY1, SECONDARY2, and SECONDARY3.

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