What is Keratoconus?
Keratoconus, often referred to as “KC,” is a non-inflammatory eye condition in which the typically round dome-shaped cornea progressively thins and weakens, causing the development of a cone-like bulge and optical irregularity of the cornea. This causes “static” in your vision and can result in significant visual impairment.
Normal Cornea vs. Keratoconic Cornea
Keratoconus Symptoms
In its earliest stages, keratoconus causes slight blurring and distortion of vision and increased sensitivity to glare and light. These symptoms usually appear in the late teens or early 20s. Keratoconus affects both genders although it is unclear whether significant differences exist between males and females. The disease is also found in all ethnic groups with some studies showing higher incidence rates among Asian populations, in particular.
Keratoconus may progress for 10-20 years and then slow in its progression. Each eye may be affected differently. As keratoconus progresses, the cornea bulges more, and vision may become more distorted. In a small number of cases, the cornea will swell and cause a sudden and significant decrease in vision. The swelling occurs when the strain of the cornea's protruding cone-like shape causes a tiny crack to develop. The swelling may last for weeks or months as the crack heals and is gradually replaced by scar tissue. If this sudden swelling does occur, your doctor can prescribe eye drops for temporary relief.
Other symptoms include:
- Slight blurring of vision
- Distortion of vision
- Increased sensitivity to light
- Excessively rubbing your eyes
- Hard to see at night
- Frequent changes, or unable to change your vision with glasses
- Frequent headaches
The cornea is responsible for focusing most of the light that comes into the eye. Therefore, abnormalities of the cornea, such as keratoconus, can have a major impact on how an individual sees the world, making simple tasks such as driving a car or reading a book very difficult.
What Is iLink™ Corneal Cross-Linking?
iLink™corneal cross-linking is a minimally invasive outpatient procedure that combines the use of ultraviolet light and specially formulated eye drops to stiffen and strengthen corneas that have been weakened by disease or refractive surgery. Cross-linking is considered the standard of care around the world for progressive keratoconus and corneal ectasia following refractive surgery. Corneal Cross-Linking creates new corneal collagen cross-links, resulting in a shortening and thickening of the collagen fibrils which leads to the stiffening of the cornea.
What to Expect During the Procedure
After numbing drops are applied, the epithelium (the thin layer on the surface of the cornea) is gently removed
• Photrexa® Viscous eye drops will be applied to the cornea for at least 30 minutes
• Depending on the thickness of your cornea, Photrexa® drops may also be required
• The cornea is then exposed to UV light for 30 minutes while additional Photrexa® Viscous drops are applied
The actual procedure takes about an hour, but you will be at the office for approximately 2 hours to allow sufficient time for preparation and recovery before you return to the comfort of your own home.
