EyeWorld 2006-9-16 7:49:42

Collagen cross-linking one possibility to treat ectasia and keratoconus

by Vanessa Caceres EyeWorld Contributing Editor

Experimental approach with riboflavin tested by some clinicians

Collagen cross-linking with riboflavin may be one way to treat iatrogenic ectasia, said Amar Agarwal, M.S., F.R.C.S., Dr. Agarwal's Eye Hospital, Chennai, India.
The technique uses ultraviolet A (UVA) light and riboflavin to create new bonds between the adjacent collagen molecules so that the cornea is one and a half times thicker and less malleable, he said.
The approach was discussed at a course on refractive surgery worst case scenarios at the 2006 ASCRS•ASOA Symposium & Congress.

Full article:
http://www.eyeworld.org/article.php?sid=3363

We have been following the development of Corneal Collagen Crosslinking with Riboflavin (C3-R) very closely. Most of the progress on C3-R is taking place in Dresden and Geneva. I attended the first global congress on C3-R last December in Geneva.

Many presentations showed improvement in corneal stability after C3-R, but a couple showed no change at all. The reason for the poor outcome was not defined.

In addition to treatment for keratoconus, C3-R is being considered for refractive surgery induced ectasia and former Radial Keratotomy (RK) patients who are experiencing hyperoic float and fluctuations in refractive error throughout the day.

We have a detailed article on C3-R at http://www.usaeyes.org/lasik/faq/c3-r.htm

Glenn Hagele
http://USAEyes.org
Lasik Patient Advocacy & Surgeon Certification

I am not a doctor.