Keratoconus Treatment In Windermere, FL

CROSS-LINKING

Cross-linking is a minimally invasive outpatient procedure for the treatment of progressive keratoconus. iLink FDA-approved cross-linking combines the use of prescription eye drops, Photrexa® Viscous (riboflavin 5’-phosphate in 20% dextran ophthalmic solution), Photrexa® (riboflavin 5’-phosphate ophthalmic solution), and ultra-violet A (UVA) light from the KXL® system to create new collagen cross-links and leads to the stiffening of the cornea. The goal of the procedure is to stiffen the cornea to slow or prevent further progression of the condition and preserve your vision.

What Causes It?

• Family history: If someone in your family has this condition, you have a greater chance of getting it yourself. If you have it, get your children’s eyes checked for signs starting around age 10.
• Age: It usually starts when you’re a teenager. But it might show up earlier in childhood or not until you’re 30. It can also affect people 40 and older, but that’s less common.
• Certain disorders: Studies have found a connection between keratoconus and systemic conditions such as Down syndrome, Ehlers-Danlos syndrome, osteogenesis imperfecta, and retinitis pigmentosa.
• Inflammation: Inflammation from things like allergies, asthma, or atopic eye disease can break down the tissue of the cornea.
• Eye rubbing: Rubbing your eyes hard over time can break down the cornea. It can also make keratoconus progress faster if you already have it.
• Race: One study of more than 16,000 people with keratoconus found that people who are Black or Latino are roughly 50% more likely to get it than people who are white.

What Are the Symptoms?

Keratoconus changes your vision in two ways:

As the cornea changes shape from a ball to a cone, the smooth surface becomes wavy.

This is called irregular astigmatism.

As the front expands, your vision becomes more nearsighted. That means you can see objects clearly only when they’re up close. Anything too far away looks like a blur.

An eye doctor may spot the signs during an eye exam.

You should also mention symptoms like:

• Double vision when looking with just one eye
• Objects both near and far that look blurry
• Bright lights that appear to have halos around them
• Light streaks
• Triple ghost images
• Blurry vision that makes it hard to drive

How Is It Treated?

You’ll probably start with new glasses. If you have a mild case, new eyeglasses should clear things up. If they don't, your doctor will suggest contact lenses. Rigid gas permeable contacts are usually the first choice.

Over time, you may need other treatments to strengthen your cornea and improve your sight.

Our Office features a treatment called Cornea Collagen Crosslinking may stop the condition from getting worse. Or your doctor could implant a ring called an Intacs under the cornea’s surface to flatten the cone shape and improve vision. Corneal collagen cross-linking or CXL uses riboflavin drops combined with UVA light to strengthen the cornea. The procedure is designed to stop further progression of corneal ectasia (or thinning), which is typically seen in patients with keratoconus and in patients who have had LASIK or RK eye surgery.

When other treatments don’t give you good vision, the last resort is a cornea transplant.

This is a very safe operation, and it’s successful in more than 90% of cases. The doctor will remove the center of your cornea, replace it with one from a donor, and stitch the new one into place. You may need contact lenses afterward.

Dr. Raja Is Here to Help!

It's easy to schedule your eye exam at Remagin. Just request your appointment online or call us today at (407) 674-1856. If you live in West Orlando, Windermere, or the surrounding area, and suffering from keratoconus, help is available. Dr. Raja will answer any questions you may have and provide the treatment you need for effective relief.