«If my son had a keratoconus, I would spend such treatment tomorrow», - These are the words of the author of the new method of healing from keratoconus called Cross-Linking. What is the essence of this method and what it is so good, - read in this article.
Content
This cunning disease Keratoconus
Keratoconus - chronic progressive disease, gradually leading to the thinning of the cornea. This occurs as a result of the weakening of communication between its middle layers. As a result, the cornea under the action of intraocular pressure is deformed, astigmatism and myopia develops, the vision worsens. In pronounced changes, the cornea acquires a conical form, from where the name of the disease occurred. Over time, with the development of the process, the enemy may appear and clouding the cornea, which makes the vision even more.
The disease is manifested by a decrease in vision due to the development of astigmatism and myopia. Patients complain about the need for frequent change of optical powers and the emergence of intolerance of soft contact lenses. It is characteristic that the complaints described originally concern only one eye.
With the further development of keratoconus, astigmatism increases and vision correction becomes impossible. The cornea is increasingly thinning to critical quantities. The moment occurs when the thickness of the cornea becomes so small that it is not able to maintain the balance of intraocular and external pressure. The corneal edema develops, the situation becomes unsafe for the integrity of the eye.
What is cross-lining
Early stage of the disease until recently difficult was diagnosed and could be missed. Recently, due to the emergence of new technologies for the study of the cornea, keratoconus is diagnosed more often in the early stages. Modern methods of research of the cornea allow to obtain a complete topographical map of the front and rear surface (which is especially important, t.To. Initial changes manifest exactly on the back surface of the cornea) cornea, its thickness at any point with accuracy of 1 micron!
The method is to strengthen the cornea using ultraviolet and vitamins. It combines riboflavin instillation with subsequent 30-minute ultraviolet eye irradiation. This technique allows you to stabilize the progression of keratoconus, stops thinning and protruding the cornea, prevents the need for corneal transplantation.
Technique Procedures
Cross-Linking
The procedure is safe, carried out without cuts of the cornea. Professor Teo Zailer from Switzerland, which is one of the founders of the method, said: «If my son had a keratoconus, I would spend such treatment tomorrow». It is much safer than corneal transplant. Ultraviolet dose, which is used in treating less than its number with a one-day walk in the mountains.
After crosslinking, collagen fibers are very slowly updated, so repeated treatment is likely to be not needed. Biomechanical studies have shown the strengthening of the mechanical rigidity of the cornea by 328.9%!
As a rule, in addition to sealing the cornea, as a result of the treatment, there is a formulation of the central part of the cornea and an increase in uniformity of curvature. At the same time, the degree of astigmatism is reduced on average for 2 diopters and the vision improves. With the initial stage of the disease and small astigmatism, it becomes possible to use conventional soft contact lenses, to achieve a comfortable and well-portable speaker correction.
The emergence of a new therapeutic method of treatment of keratoconus gives high hopes to those who suffer from this disease.
