Collagen Cross-Linking (CXL) for Keratoconus

Keratoconus is a condition where the clear tissue on the front of the eye (cornea) is weakened or thinning causing it to progressively bulge outward. Symptoms typically occur during a person’s teen years and include blurred vision. It is typically not correctable with glasses, requiring specialty contact lenses, or in severe cases if left untreated, a corneal transplant. Collagen Cross Linking is a procedure that should be performed ASAP to stop or slow down the progression of Keratoconus.

If you have keratoconus, your cornea has too few cross-links—or support beams—allowing your cornea to bulge outward into a cone shape.

The cross-linking procedure adds cross-links to your cornea. Once it has been distorted, the cornea cannot regain it’s normal shape. CXL strengthens your cornea, which stops the thinning process and limits further vision loss.

NVISION is one of the leaders in keratoconus care and surgery. Our surgeons will thoroughly analyze your unique condition to develop a personalized treatment approach. Other procedures can be used in conjunction with CXL such as INTACS, EVO ICL, Laser Vision Correction – to reduce your dependence on glasses and contacts.

Early treatment for keratoconus is necessary to prevent it’s progression. While the patients that benefit the most from crosslinking are in their teens or twenties, any patient that demonstrates active disease with progressive thinning can benefit. CXL is a treatment to consider if you are in one of the following categories:

• You have been newly diagnosed with keratoconus. The earlier you have the treatment, the earlier you have the potential of stopping your disease from progressing.
• You have been living with keratoconus—even if you are getting good vision with contacts. Your disease may very well be progressing despite good vision or comfortable contact lens wear. Any progression is irreversible, and CXL is the only procedure that can stop the progression of the disease.