Month: June 2014

If you are living with keratoconus, a progressive non-inflammatory eye disorder that causes a cone-like steepening of the cornea, you know how important it is to get treatment so that you can get back to your normal routine. Keratoconus damages your vision and makes it impossible to focus without the assistance of eyeglasses or contacts. Luckily, there is a treatment option that is non-invasive and helps address the issue.

Holcomb C3-R® treatment is the first non-invasive corneal crosslinking procedure for keratoconus and works by numbing the area before applying a solution that contains riboflavin and other compounds to your cornea. Once activated by a special UVA light it helps stabilize weakened links in the cornea collagen fiber, which allows most patients to see results in one treatment.

The benefits include being able to return to work the next day thanks to faster recovery time and no need for steroid eye drops after the procedure. In comparison, CXL treatment can take up to three months to heal and patients usually miss one to two weeks of work due to discomfort and pain. With the CXL treatment you also will have to wait 3 months to resume wearing contacts and have 2-13 weeks of steroid eye drop use until the outer layer of the cornea can heal. Corneal transplant has even more of an impact on your recovery, with an invasive and painful procedure that can take up to six months or a year for you to heal and wear contacts as normal.

With Holcomb C3-R® treatment, there is virtually no risk of complication. However, some patients report mild irritation in their eyes for a few days while most do not. You may experience haziness in vision for the remainder of the day following the procedure, but you can resume wearing contacts the next day. In the end, it is an excellent option for those with keratoconus to help improve eye strength moving forward.

A diagnosis of Keratoconus can be frightening. If you have family history of Keratoconus you may have already experienced seeing someone with the disease. However today technology has allowed for several new treatments that can slow the progression of Keratoconus or even in some cases stop the it’s progression.

In the past most treatments for Keratoconus ended up with a Corneal Transplant. But within the last decade many other treatments have allowed for faster recovery times, non-invasive procedures, and even improvements over time. Now with the design of hybrid contact lenses, scleral contacts, and even the Holcomb C3-R ® patients have non-invasive options for improving their vision.

Today’s Treatment Options

The use of eye glasses: The use of eye glasses has been a treatment option for those with Keratoconus and many other condition for years. This treatment is generally used in the very early stages of Keratoconus. When patients are treated during early diagnosis with Holcomb C3-R® they have a higher probability to be able to use glasses long term. Holcomb C3-R® stabilizes the progression of Keratoconus and helps preserve a patient’s current vision.

Contact Lenses:

Another traditional treatment for more advanced Keratoconus are RGP (Rigid Gas Permeable lenses) or Scleral Contact Lens. One type of RGP lens is the Rose-K lens, which can offer crisp and sharp vision for those with Keratoconus. There are some brands of soft contact lenses that are designed for patients with Keratoconus, these include KeraSoft Lenses and NovaKone Lenses. In addition to the soft contact lens there is a combination lens or Hybrid lenses like ClearKone ®, which have a hard center and a soft skirt. Discuss with your Keratoconus contact lens fitter the best option to improve the clarity of your vision and improve your day-to-day visual experience.

The Holcomb C3-R ® or Corneal Cross-linking With Riboflavin: This revolutionary treatment developed in 2003 by Dr. Brian Boxer Wachler is used to preserve the vision of those suffering with Keratoconus by using a more natural approach. A Vitamin rich solution is administered to the eyes and then activated with a special UV light. This procedure helps to strengthen the cornea and stop the progression vision loss from Keratoconus. This procedure helps to preserve a patient’s current vision. When combined with other procedures, such as INTACS, overall vision can be improved.

Ian discusses how revolutionary Keratoconus treatments have improved his life and vision, watch his story here: http://youtu.be/Tr2DeAQA-DI

To learn more about new treatments for Keratoconus you can visit www.allaboutvision.com/conditions/keratoconus.htm