
A healthy cornea is vital for clear vision. The cornea is the clear dome that covers the front of your eye.
Its shape focuses the light that passes through it onto the retina, allowing you to see clearly. However, like other parts of your eye, your cornea can be affected by certain eye conditions.
Keratoconus is one eye condition that affects the cornea, but many treatment methods exist. One common treatment is corneal crosslinking.
Keep reading to learn more about corneal crosslinking!
What Is Keratoconus?
Keratoconus is not an eye condition that can cause blurry and distorted vision. This condition targets the cornea, weakening its structure.
When your cornea becomes weak, it begins to bulge. Eventually, it takes on a cone-like shape rather than a nice even dome.
When the cornea is misshapen, it strongly distorts vision. Even though keratoconus has been studied for years, no one knows what causes it exactly.
Many researchers believe that you can be genetically predisposed. For this reason, you may be at a higher risk if you have a family history of keratoconus.
It is a progressive condition, meaning it will only worsen without intervention. Fortunately, there is a powerful treatment available that can save your vision.
How Can Corneal Crosslinking Help Me?
Corneal crosslinking is a treatment designed to strengthen your cornea. Healthy corneas are made up of strong collagen fibers that are also crosslinked.
Using vitamin B-12 and UV light during the corneal crosslinking condition, eye doctors can repair the structure of the cornea. This procedure aims to strengthen the cornea and prevent the progression of the condition.
For those who need the procedure, corneal crosslinking can be very effective. Corneal crosslinking is not an option for everyone.
You are much more likely to be a candidate if you catch your keratoconus early on. Severe keratoconus can cause your cornea to be too thin and scarred.
In some cases, advanced keratoconus may need further treatment, such as a corneal transplant.
What Happens During Corneal Crosslinking Treatment?
The eye doctor will start by numbing your eyes with drops. Depending on which crosslinking procedure you need, the doctor may remove a thin layer of tissue from your cornea.
Drops containing the vitamin B-12 are placed in your eye. Finally, you will look into ultraviolet light.
Typically, the procedure takes less than two hours, although everyone’s eyes are different. While you’ll be able to go home right after the crosslinking, you’ll need someone to drive you back.
The corneal crosslinking procedure is not a vision correction procedure. Although it will help stop the progression of keratoconus and will make your cornea stronger, the end result isn’t always improved vision.
It is essential to follow all recovery instructions carefully. Your eye doctor may require you to use prescription eye drops during recovery.
It is essential to take these eye drops as prescribed and on time to avoid complications.
Do you have keratoconus? Schedule an appointment at Stahl Eyecare Experts in Garden City, NY, today to determine if you are a candidate for corneal crosslinking!