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C3R/CXL |
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| C3R is a disease of the eye where the front surface of the eye, called Cornea, becomes weak, leading to progressive thinning and stretching which gradually progresses. Gradually, the Cornea bulges forwards, leading to an irregular cone shape. This causes distortion and blurring of the image formed by the cornea. Usually this disease is bilateral, though the severity may vary between the two eyes. |
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The methods of treatment include –
- Use of Contact Lenses: Early Keratoconus can be managed by giving rigid Contact Lenses to the patient which correct the irregularity of the cornea and provide better quality of vision. However, the disadvantage of contact lenses is that, in severe cases, optimal fit is not achieved and rigid lenses are more difficult to wear.
- C3R (Corneal Collagen Cross linking with Riboflavin): This is a permanent treatment and is the only way to stop the progression of Keratoconus. It is based on collagen cross-linking with ultra-violet A (UVA, 365 nm) and Riboflavin (vitamin B2, a photo sensitizing agent). This changes the intrinsic biomechanical property of the cornea, increasing its strength by almost 300%. This increase in corneal strength has shown to arrest the progression of Keratoconus and in some cases, it can reverse the Keratoconus completely.
- Cornea Transplant: This is a surgical treatment, which is reserved for advance cases of Keratoconus, where the vision can not be improved with glasses or contact lenses. Here the central portion of the cornea is removed and replaced with a donor cornea of similar size. Since there is high possibility of complications & graft rejection,this surgery is reserved for selected cases.
- Intacs: These are acrylic rings inserted in the corneal stroma to decrease corneal irregularity in cases of Keratoconus. They can improve uncorrected vision without contact lenses. These can also be combined with C3R.
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