"*" indicates required fields
26/08/2017
Keratoconus is a condition that causes the round cornea of the eye to change shape over time. The tiny fibres of protein in the eye (called collagen) that normally support the cornea become weak with the onset of keratoconus. This eventually causes the cornea to lose its natural dome-like shape and become cone-shaped.
It can cause a number of changes to eyesight, including blurring of vision, bright lights appearing to be streaked, and glare and halos appearing at night.
Keratoconus is a progressive condition that has been reported in up to 1 in 84 Australians.1 It is an inherited and degenerative disorder and is usually diagnosed in the teenage or early adult years.
Rigid contact lenses and intracorneal ring segments help to correct the prescriptive error, but they don’t prevent further progression of keratoconus.
Prior to the availability of corneal collagen cross-linking to treat keratoconus, about 10–20% of patients eventually required a corneal transplant.2
Collagen cross-linking is a medical procedure that employs the use of ultra-violet (UV) light and drops to help slow the progress of the condition.
Under topical anaesthesia, the superficial layer of the cornea is loosened before riboflavin drops (vitamin B2) are applied. The cornea is then exposed to UV light, which causes the riboflavin to fluoresce. In turn, this strengthens the bonds between the collagen molecules, stiffens the collagen fibres and, ultimately, strengthens the cornea.
Collagen cross-linking isn’t a cure for keratoconus. However, in many cases, it is able to halt further progression of the condition. Most importantly, it can help slow visual deterioration and prevent the need for a corneal transplant.
This treatment changes the intrinsic biomechanical properties of the cornea and has been shown to strengthen the cornea by around 300%.3 Research to date indicates that it is very effective in slowing disease progression and may improve vision.
The results over periods of 3 and 5 years of a Dresden clinical study have indicated that in the case of 60 eyes researched, the progression of keratoconus had been stopped in all cases.4 In 31 of the eyes, there was a reversal and flattening of the cornea and visual acuity was improved. Similar success was found in a later study in which 241 eyes were observed for up to 6 years following the procedure.5 Only 2 of the patients showed signs of any further progression of the disorder, and they both responded successfully to re-treatment.
Many patients with keratoconus who may have faced undergoing a corneal transplant in the past, now have more options with the advent of corneal cross-linking. Equally, they may be able to retain a much higher standard of visual quality for a much longer period of time.
Collagen cross-linking may not be effective in halting progression in cases where the cornea is too thin (less than 350 microns). In such cases, alternative treatments might be considered, including lamellar keratoplasty and corneal ring implants (Intacs and Kerarings).
The information on this page is general in nature. All medical and surgical procedures have potential benefits and risks. Consult your ophthalmologist for specific medical advice.
Date last reviewed: 2024-10-22 | Date for next review: 2026-10-22
