Crosslinking - Keratoconus
Corneal crosslinking is a treatment whose objective is to stabilize the cornea and slow down or stop the progression of KeratoconusKeratoconus is a disease that causes progressive degeneration of the cornea which manifests itself in a thinning of the tissue and, sometimes, in a high astigmatism irregular. In addition, it is the main cause of corneal transplants among the young population.
Corneal crosslinking is a surgical procedure in which ultraviolet radiation is applied to the cornea along with riboflavin to harden it and prevent the deformation that occurs in certain diseases, such as keratoconus and other special cases.
The procedure is performed under eye drop anesthesia, it takes between 30 to 35 minutes to perform both eyes, and at the end of the procedure a protective contact lens is placed for approximately four (4) days.
Common post-treatment discomforts include a foreign body sensation, light discomfort, and blurred vision. These usually resolve within 4 or 5 days, without complications. For the first two months after surgery, patients may continue to experience mild blurriness.
After surgery, the patient will need to take antibiotic eye drops and other pain relievers for several days. In some cases, preventative contact lenses are prescribed. After 3 to 5 days, the patch covering the eye will be removed.
After a few months, you'll not only notice the strengthening of the cornea and improved visual acuity, but you'll also notice how myopia, or difficulty seeing farsightedness, diminishes or disappears. It's a safe procedure that halts the progression of keratoconus in 95% of cases, without any harm or side effects.