C3R Treatment for Keratoconus
Many LASIK and refractive surgeons are now using Corneal Collagen Crosslinking with Riboflavin (C3R) as a treatment for patients with keratoconus. Recent evidence and studies are showing that Corneal Collagen Crosslinking with Riboflavin (C3R) strengthens the corneal structure and can help prevent the progression of keratoconus. C3R works by increasing collagen crosslinking, giving the cornea greater ability to withstand degeneration that occurs in diseases such as kerataconus. The newly strengthened cornea protects against the bulging out and becoming steep and irregular, consequence of advanced keratoconus.
Keratoconus is a disease of the cornea that occurs in about 1 in 2000 Americans. It manifests as the cornea become weak and loses its shape, gradually causing a blurred image on the retina. Generally, it is the bottom half of the cornea that becomes distorted and vision loss first presents itself as irregular astigmatism. At first glasses or contact lenses can correct for this distortion but in advanced stages of keratoconus, glasses and contact lenses are much less effective. Although keratoconus causes irregular astigmatism, most forms of astigmatism are not related to keratoconus and are simply the effects of a slightly oval shaped cornea. In the early stages of keratoconus (forme fruste keratoconus), optometrists can often assist a patient by prescribing glasses or contact lenses. Some contact lenses have been designed to specifically help those who suffer from keratoconus. Advanced stages of keratoconus require surgical intervention to obtain good vision.
Corneal Crosslinking with Riboflavin, C3R treatment, is performed at many of the top refractive and LASIK surgery clinics in Europe, Asia, and North America. During this advanced treatment, riboflavin drops are applied to the surface of the cornea. These drops will absorb into the cornea and are used to trigger the crosslinking inside the corneal stroma. The riboflavin drops are activated by exposure to low doses of ultraviolet light under carefully measured treatments by the corneal specialist. Clinical studies are showing that C3R treatment increases the amount of collagen cross-linking in the cornea in order to strengthen the cornea. In studies at clinics in Europe, Asia, and America, C3R treatments were demonstrated to be both safe and effective for keratoconus patients.
C3R treatment could also be a treatment option for a rare complication of LASIK known as corneal ectasia. This complication occurs in fewer than 1 in 10,000 treatments and has become even more rare with advances in LASIK treatments.