Clinical ophthalmology 2017; 11: 657-68. What is Keratoconus? To determine the best treatment for you, please complete our simple form to schedule a consultation exam. You'll know that your glasses won't be out of date in a few weeks due to eye shape, and that could be a big relief to you. 5) Raiskup F, Theuring A, Pillunat LE, et al. The impact of keratoconus treatment with the Athens Protocol (partial topography-guided photorefractive keratectomy combined with higher-fluence corneal collagen cross-linking) on quality of life: a long-term study. How much does Crosslinking for Keratoconus cost? If your doctor considers you a good candidate for the procedure due to your keratoconus and eye health, your insurance company should help cover the cost. Keratoconus can result in significant visual loss and may lead to corneal transplant in severe cases. Tests to diagnose keratoconus include: 1. If you have keratoconus that developed after surgery, cross-linking should help to amend the damage and heal the shape of your eye. Manche Augenärzte sind der Meinung, diese Möglichkeit sei besser als Kontaktlinsen, da Kontaktlinsen den Keratokonus auslösen oder zumindest verstärken könnten. There are two types of keratoconus surgeries: The American Academy of Ophthalmology says doctors debate about the merits of both types of procedures. Many insurance policies have detail about the fact that the epi-off procedure is the only FDA approved treatment for progressive keratoconus that is being covered, while epi-on is not. But waiting comes with risks too. If you think your eyes aren't healing properly or you have any other concerns, talk with your doctor right away. (Learn more), If you choose to move ahead, the research suggests the procedure can stop the progression of keratoconus, and your vision might even improve. 9) O’Brart DPS. Each day, your acuity might be a little different. Corneal Collagen Cross-Linking with Riboflavin (CXL, sometimes also abbreviated as C3R) is a non-invasive corneal treatment shown to slow or halt the progression of keratoconus. Expect to spend most of the day with your eye doctor, and plan to spend a few weeks in recovery. The goal of this treatment is to reinforce the collagen fiber links within the cornea. Die Behandlung wird unter lokaler Betäubung (Augentropfen) schmerzfrei durchgeführt. In a 2014 study, researchers found that about half of people who had cross-linking had an improvement of one line in visual acuity two years after surgery. Ocular Surgery News. Journal of cataract and refractive surgery 2015; 41(6): 1336-7. The ocular surface 2015; 13(4): 298-314. That way, you'll know how much you'll have to pay after insurance. To diagnose keratoconus, your eye doctor (ophthalmologist or optometrist) will review your medical and family history and conduct an eye exam. The other got epi-off cross-linking. Management of progressive keratoconus with partial topography-guided PRK combined with refractive, customized CXL – a novel technique: the enhanced Athens protocol. Months one to three. Journal of cataract and refractive surgery 2015; 41(1): 41-6. For now, only the epi-off type of surgery has been approved by the FDA. Weitere, jedoch inhomogen publizierte Kriterien umfassen eine Zunahme der Brillenwerte (Sphärisches Äquivalent/ Hornhautverkrümmung), sowie eine Abnahme der Sehstärke (3). Das erste Crosslinking-Verfahren wurde nach dem sogenannten „Dresdner-Protokoll“ durchgeführt. Leaving cells in place means less pain and a quicker recovery, and some doctors think that makes it a better choice. (June 2018). Experts say your vision can change during: You won't have contact lenses to ease your shifting vision, as your eyes will need oxygen to heal. Cross linking is currently the only available treatment which appears to stop the worsening of keratoconus. 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