Tijuana Eye Center has performed this treatment with complete success over the past 7 years among patients with keratoconus avoiding the need for other types of keratoconus surgeries. We have recently acquired the Schwind CXl 365 Vario System which allows us to perform treatments in 5 minutes compared to other treatment systems which last 60 minutes
Eye physicians in Germany and Italy performed the initial studies of collagen crosslinking to strengthen the cornea. They reported results of treatments done as long ago as 1998, so there is a good track record for this procedure. It is important to note in these studies that the proper dosages of the components are a very important part of the treatment. When used properly, there were no negative effects. Unfortunately, U.S. Studies for FDA approval have been halted due to lack of funds forcing keratoconus patients to look outside the United States for treatment.
Corneal cross-linking treatments can also be combined with Kera-RingsÂŽ to flatten the keratoconus cone even more than with Kera-Rings alone. In these cases, cross linking treatments stabilize keratoconus from getting worse as well as help the Kera-RingsÂŽ reverse the keratoconus steepening that had already occurred up to the time of the treatment. During the 30-minute, in-office treatment, custom-made riboflavin eyedrops are applied to the cornea, which are then activated by a special light. This is the process that has been shown in laboratory and clinical studies to increase the amount of collagen cross-linking in the cornea and strengthen the cornea. In published studies, such treatments were proven safe and effective in patients.
