Description

Keratoconus is a progressive, non-inflammatory infection which affects the cornea. The cornea is the window of the eye and the key area where images are focused when we see. Keratoconus causes thinning of the cornea which results in bulging, creating a cone-like silhouette of the cornea. WHAT IS KERATOCONUS? The word keratoconus is derived from Greek and Latin. Kerato means cornea and conus means cone shaped. It is a bilateral, progressive, asymmetric, non-inflammatory thinning and ectatic condition of the cornea, occurring in a high degree of asymmetrical myopic astigmatism. WHAT IS THE USUAL AGE OF ONSET OF KERATOCONUS? The beginning of keratoconus is between the ages of 10 and 30. The deviations in the shape of the cornea typically transpire gradually over numerous years. SYMPTOMS Symptoms depend on the severity of the ailment. The most common symptoms include: • Blurry vision • Distortion of vision. • Photophobia • Glare • Eye irritation and itching • Recurrent spectacle power changes. • Incapability to wear contact lenses. TREATMENT CORNEAL COLLAGEN CROSS-LINKING WITH RIBOFLAVIN (C3-R) A new non surgical, non invasive treatment, based on collagen cross linking with Ultraviolet A (UVA, 365nm) and riboflavin (Vitamin B 2), a photosensitizing agent is now available. This changes the intrinsic biomechanical properties of the cornea, increasing its mechanical strength. This increase in corneal strength has shown to arrest the progression of keratoconus. This new treatment has shown great success, a one-time application of riboflavin eye drops to the eye. The riboflavin, when activated by approximately 30 minutes illumination with UV-A light, augments the collagen cross-links within the stroma and so recovers some of the cornea’s mechanical strength.

Filter tags