Collagen Cross Linking
About Keratoconus and Collagen Cross Linking
What is Keratoconus?
Keratoconus, a progressive eye disorder that causes the cornea to become conical in shape, can be treated in a number of different ways. The most common ways of treating it are with contact lenses, corneal transplant surgery or Intacs.
Recently, a procedure has shown a lot of promise in treating keratoconus and may be a safer, less expensive and less invasive alternative for corneal transplants in the future. This procedure is called collagen cross linking.
How It Works
Collagen cross linking (also called CxL) works on the theory that the structures within the cornea that link to each other and keep the cornea from bulging outward are weakened by keratoconus. By strengthening the links between these structures, the disease can be halted and reversed to some extent.
The procedure for collagen cross linking consists of applying specially formulated riboflavin (vitamin B2) eye drops to the cornea and using an ultraviolet (UVA) light to activate them. The simple, 30-minute process stimulates the connection of collagen fibers and helps restore the cornea to a proper shape and increase contact lens tolerance.
Collagen cross linking can be done alone or in conjunction with the Intacs procedure to achieve an even flatter cornea. Contact lenses may or may not be required after the procedure, and many patients notice an improvement in their vision within 3 to 6 months. This treatment, which was developed at the Technische Universität Dresden in Germany, has been extensively performed abroad for nearly a decade, but it still awaits FDA approval in the U.S. following the conclusion of several clinical trials. To date, collagen cross linking is very promising and no serious risks have been discovered.
Are You Ready to Find out More?
If you’re ready to choose a doctor for your keratoconus treatment evaluation, for conventional or custom wavefront LASIK, all-laser LASIK, PRK, LASEK, Visian ICL, or any other refractive surgery procedure, we highly recommend that you consider a board-certified surgeon who has been fellowship trained in cornea and refractive surgery, such as Dr. Ilan Cohen. For treatment options in Manhattan, Glendale NY, the greater New York area, or Old Bridge, New Jersey, and surrounding communities, we welcome you to contact us, call (212) 764-2020 or (866) 731-3937, or visit us.
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Dr. Cohen is one of the most experienced LASIK surgeons in the nation. He was the first surgeon in the New York City area to perform cutting edge corneal surgery such as the implantable contact lens and the artificial corneal transplant.Learn more...
