Corneal Cross-Linking
Associates in Eyecare is pleased to offer corneal cross-linking with
the only FDA approved system,
Avedro. Corneal
cross-linking is approved to treat keratoconus, a disease of corneal
weakening, and post-LASIK ectasia, which is kerataconus caused by LASIK.
Like any structure, the eye needs to be rigid enough to withstand its
internal pressure. If there is a weak spot, the area will bulge and
warp. This is what happens in keratoconus. (see photo)
Keratoconus is a disease found in about 1/500 people. It manifests as
blurry vision that often cannot be corrected by glasses. Advanced
testing with corneal topography, a color map of the surface of your
cornea, is used to confirm the diagnosis.
Historically there was
no treatment available for keratoconus. Many patients suffered a
lifetime of blurry vision and some even needed corneal transplants, an
expensive and risky procedure.
Cornea cross-linking is able to
completely arrest the progression of the disease 95% of the time with 1
treatment and 99% with two treatments if needed. The risk of
complications is about 1%. There is no way to reverse the effects of
prior damage and so early detection and treatment is critical.
The procedure lasts about 60 minutes and takes about 2 weeks to heal
fully. Overall the procedure is fairly painless with the appropriate
pain management regimen.
If you have questions, or would like to
be evaluated for corneal cross-linking please call or book online.
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