Corneal Cross-Linking Specialist
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Advanced Lasik
LASIK Surgeon & Ophthalmologist located in Manhattan, NY, & Long Beach, CA
Corneal Cross-Linking is an in-office procedure performed over the cornea with or without vision correction. It is performed on patients that have thin corneas with a high prescription, or patients that have abnormally weak corneal structure, such as keratoconus. An eye disease that causes your cornea to grow thinner and start bulging out in a cone shape can cause some significant vision problems, including high levels of astigmatism. At Advanced Lasik in Manhattan, New York City, and Long Beach, California, expert ophthalmologist Randa Garrana, MD, offers a highly advanced new keratoconus treatment called Corneal Cross-Linking with Riboflavin. To learn how this treatment can help you, click the online scheduler or book your appointment by calling the office nearest you now.
Corneal Cross-Linking Q & A
What is keratoconus?
Keratoconus is an eye disease that changes the shape of your cornea. As your cornea grows thinner, it bulges into a conical shape. Common symptoms of early-stage keratoconus can include:
- Slightly blurry vision
- Mildly distorted vision, for example, straight lines appear curved
- Light sensitivity
- Itchy eyes
- Red eyes
Early stage keratoconus can be different in each eye. Keratoconus is a progressive condition, but it usually advances slowly but steadily. In rare cases, keratoconus can advance rapidly and cause corneal scarring.
Late stage keratoconus can cause significantly blurry vision, and it can worsen nearsightedness and astigmatism. If you wear contact lenses, you could find them too uncomfortable or ill-fitting in late-stage keratoconus. The only possible treatment of late stage keratoconus would be a corneal transplant.
If you get treatment for keratoconus, your disease doesn’t have to progress beyond the early stages of mildly blurry vision. If you reach out for help, Dr. Garrana can perform Corneal Cross-Linking with riboflavin to prevent keratoconus from getting worse.
What is Corneal Cross-Linking with riboflavin?
Corneal Cross-Linking with riboflavin is an FDA-approved advanced treatment of keratoconus. In this treatment, Dr. Garrana increases the number of collagen cross-links in your eyes, which reinforces the natural anchors inside your cornea. The additional cross-links prevent keratoconus progression and help your cornea keep its shape.
How does Corneal Cross-Linking with riboflavin work?
During the Corneal Cross-Linking procedure, Dr. Garrana applies riboflavin eye drops that have a special ability to absorb ultraviolet (UV) light in your eyes and then shines carefully controlled UV light onto your corneas to generate new collagen cross-links within your corneas. The whole procedure typically takes 60 minutes at Advanced Lasik.
What are the benefits of Corneal Cross-Linking with riboflavin?
The new cross-links prompt the existing collagen fibrils in your eyes to shorten and increase in diameter. This helps with keratoconus in several ways:
- Position: it anchors your cornea in the proper position
- Strength: it makes the cornea stronger and sturdier
- Shape: it helps your cornea remain round rather than continuing to bulge outward
When you combine all the benefits of Corneal Cross-Linking with riboflavin, the end result is more stable corneas and a halt in the progression of keratoconus. This procedure can even help reverse keratoconus to some degree.
If keratoconus is causing vision and eye health problems, use online scheduling or call Advanced Lasik to arrange your consultation with Dr. Garrana now.
