Information on Keratoconus

Keratoconus is a rare condition. Keratoconus is a condition of the eye meaning conical conea. The cornea is the major focussing surface of the eye. Keratoconus may occur in one eye only initially but most commonly affects both eyes with one eye being more severely affected than the other. Both males and females are equally affected. As the disease progresses, the cone becomes more pronounced, causing vision to become blurred and distorted. Keratoconus is sometimes an inherited problem that usually occurs in both eyes. The weakening of the corneal tissue that leads to keratoconus may be due to an imbalance of enzymes within the cornea. This imbalance makes the cornea more susceptible to oxidative damage from compounds called free radicals, causing it to weaken and bulge forward. Keratoconus may be associated with allergy or possibly have a genetic component. Keratoconus rarely appears in an individual until puberty or beyond. Keratoconus is not usually visible to the naked eye until the later stages of the disease. In severe cases, the cone shape is visible to an observer when the patient looks down while the upper lid is lifted. When looking down, the lower lid is no longer shaped like an arc, but bows outward around the pointed cornea. Risk factors Keratoconus comprise oxidative injure and weakening of the cornea include an inherited predisposition, explaining why keratoconus frequently affects more than one member of the similar family. Keratoconus is also related with overexposure to ultraviolet rays from the sun, excessive eye rubbing, a history of poorly fit contact lenses and chronic eye irritation. The primary treatment for patients with keratoconus is to fit rigid gas permeable (RGP) contact lenses. In about 10% to 20% of keratoconus patients the cornea may become extremely steep, thin and irregular or the vision cannot be improved sufficiently with contact lenses. Some people with keratoconus can’t endure a rigid contact lens, or they reach the point where contact lenses or additional therapies no longer provide acceptable vision. The cornea may then need to be replaced surgically with a corneal transplant or graft. A surgical treatment involving riboflavin and UV light has been proposed. With this treatment, the corneal epithelium is first removed, and the corneal stroma is subjected to riboflavin and exposed to UV light. Radial keratotomy is a refractive surgery procedure where the surgeon makes a spoke-like pattern of incisions into the cornea to modify its shape.

Corneal Collagen Crosslinking with Riboflavin or (C3-R) is a relatively new treatment. In past decades surgeons would have to perform a corneal transplant to improve the vision of keratoconus patients. Now they have developed a new treatment that helps strengthen the cornea and stop the damage that keratoconus patients could suffer from this progressive disease.

Corneal Collagen Crosslinking with Riboflavin or (C3-R) is a relatively new treatment. In past decades surgeons would have to perform a corneal transplant to improve the vision of keratoconus patients. Now they have developed a new treatment that helps strengthen the cornea and stop the damage that keratoconus patients could suffer from this progressive disease. The Treatment Application- C3-R is directed under the epithelial cell layer. Located on the surface of the cornea. The surgeon will apply anesthesia drops on the surface of the eye. Then disrupt the epithelial cell layer. So the Riboflavin eye drops will penetrate the stromal portion of the cornea, which is the layer under the epithelium. The Riboflavin drops are then placed on the surface of the cornea. A small UVA light is shone over the eye for about 30 minutes to activate the solution. The procedure is relatively comfortable if the epithelium layer is only disrupted rather than removed. Some surgeons removed the layer, which makes the first week of the procedure uncomfortable. Be sure to check with your doctor to see if they perform the epi-on or epi-off technique. There are several benefits of Corneal Collagen Crosslinking below are a few:

Strengthens the cornea with less evasive procedures- The solution will improve the strength of the cornea over 3-6 months after treatment. It only requires a one time application. And there are less risks associated with C3-R as appose to corneal transplant. Can be combined with INTACS to reverse damage to the cornea- C3-R treatment can be mixed with INTACS reduce the cone shape of the cornea. After the 3 year follow up doctors found that it stopped the increase of cornea curvature values and flattened the mean cone. C3-R Stabilizes Progressive Ectasia- C3-R can give some relief from Progressive Ectasia. It has been proven to stabilize progressive Ectasia. While it is not a complete cure there are high hopes for further treatments of Ectasia. The benefits of C3-R many. Surgeons are further studying and researching C3-R and INTACS. Without question medical sciences are growing rapidly. And each day we are improving the treatments for Keratoconus and other troubling diseases. There is no need to suffer with Keratoconus. Patients now have a wide array of treatments to help them with the progression of this condition.

Article Source: http://www.BestToRead.com/

Corneal Collagen Crosslinking with Riboflavin or (C3-R) is a relatively new treatment. In past decades surgeons would have to perform a corneal transplant to improve the vision of keratoconus patients. Now they have developed a new treatment that helps strengthen the cornea and stop the damage that keratoconus patients could suffer from this progressive disease.

Corneal Collagen Crosslinking with Riboflavin or (C3-R) is a relatively new treatment. In past decades surgeons would have to perform a corneal transplant to improve the vision of keratoconus patients. Now they have developed a new treatment that helps strengthen the cornea and stop the damage that keratoconus patients could suffer from this progressive disease. The Treatment Application- C3-R is directed under the epithelial cell layer. Located on the surface of the cornea. The surgeon will apply anesthesia drops on the surface of the eye. Then disrupt the epithelial cell layer. So the Riboflavin eye drops will penetrate the stromal portion of the cornea, which is the layer under the epithelium. The Riboflavin drops are then placed on the surface of the cornea. A small UVA light is shone over the eye for about 30 minutes to activate the solution. The procedure is relatively comfortable if the epithelium layer is only disrupted rather than removed. Some surgeons removed the layer, which makes the first week of the procedure uncomfortable. Be sure to check with your doctor to see if they perform the epi-on or epi-off technique. There are several benefits of Corneal Collagen Crosslinking below are a few:

Strengthens the cornea with less evasive procedures- The solution will improve the strength of the cornea over 3-6 months after treatment. It only requires a one time application. And there are less risks associated with C3-R as appose to corneal transplant. Can be combined with INTACS to reverse damage to the cornea- C3-R treatment can be mixed with INTACS reduce the cone shape of the cornea. After the 3 year follow up doctors found that it stopped the increase of cornea curvature values and flattened the mean cone. C3-R Stabilizes Progressive Ectasia- C3-R can give some relief from Progressive Ectasia. It has been proven to stabilize progressive Ectasia. While it is not a complete cure there are high hopes for further treatments of Ectasia. The benefits of C3-R many. Surgeons are further studying and researching C3-R and INTACS. Without question medical sciences are growing rapidly. And each day we are improving the treatments for Keratoconus and other troubling diseases. There is no need to suffer with Keratoconus. Patients now have a wide array of treatments to help them with the progression of this condition.

Article Source: http://www.BestToRead.com/