Corneal Cross Linking

Southern New Hampshire

Professional Routine & Medical Eye Care Specialists

Spindel Eye Associates provides patients in Derry, Londonderry, Windham, Raymond, and Bedford, NH with premier corneal cross-linking. In addition to corneal cross-linking, we offer a wide range of other routine and medical eye care services. Keep reading to learn more about corneal cross-linking.

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What Is Corneal Cross-Linking?

Corneal cross-linking is a surgical procedure performed to treat a cornea that has become weakened or warped. The corneal cross-linking procedure involves “cross-linking” new collagen fibers to strengthen and reinforce the weakened or warped cornea.

The Signs & Symptoms of Keratoconus

It’s not unusual for patients to be unaware they have keratoconus. Symptoms of this eye condition can change as it progresses. The earliest symptom of keratoconus is usually a slight blurring of vision or progressively worsening vision that isn’t easily corrected. The signs and symptoms of keratoconus include, but are not limited to, the following:

Sudden worsening or clouding of vision
Blurred or distorted vision that is not easily corrected with eye glasses or soft contact lenses.
Difficulty seeing at night
Glare and halos around lights
Increased sensitivity to bright light
Frequent changes in eyeglass prescriptions
Continuous eye rubbing

The Risk Factors of Keratoconus

Several factors are known to increase one’s chances of developing keratoconus. The risk factors of keratoconus include, but are not limited to, the following:

Having a family history of keratoconus
Chronic eye inflammation
Rubbing your eyes vigorously
Certain conditions, such as retinitis pigmentosa, Down syndrome, Ehlers-Danlos syndrome, Marfan syndrome, hay fever, and asthma
Age – this condition is often discovered during the teenage years with proper screening although it can be frequently missed.

FAQs About Corneal Cross-Linking

Most commonly, corneal cross-linking is used to treat keratoconus. This eye problem causes the cornea to thin and change shape over time. The cornea is usually rounded, but keratoconus causes it to bulge outward and become cone-shaped, which results in blurry vision and various other symptoms. Glasses or contact lenses cannot effectively treat one’s keratoconus, as they only aim to correct the vision effect of the disease often unsuccessfully. Corneal cross-linking aim to halt the progressive nature of the condition so patients are not at risk of permanent vision loss from corneal scarring if Keratoconus continues to progresses. Cross-linking can’t reverse the corneal changes that have occurred, but it can prevent the condition from progressing and worsening. Your eye doctor can let you know if this is a treatment option for you.

Keratoconus is an eye condition that causes the cornea to thin and become cone-shaped over time. This eye condition can cause light rays to become out of focus, resulting in blurry and distorted vision. Usually, keratoconus affects both eyes, but it can sometimes affect one eye more than the other. It is most often seen in people in their late teens to early 30s. This age group is the at most risk as the condition usually slows down after age 30 although some patients continue to progress even after age 30.

Before the procedure begins, your eye doctor will administer mild sedation and apply numbing anesthetic drops to your eyes. Typically, patients don’t experience much, if any, discomfort during the procedure. After the procedure, some patients may experience light sensitivity and mild discomfort. The doctor then proceeds by removing the outermost layer of the cornea (epithelium). This step is painless and very quick. This is followed by administration of specially made eye drops (Riboflavin-Vitamin B2) every 2 minutes for 30 minutes. The final step is the patient looking at a lamp emitting UV light for another 30 minutes while continuing to administer the Riboflavin drops every 2 minutes. The ultraviolet light interacts with the Riboflavin drops to to make the collagen bundles in the cornea stiffer; allowing the cornea to become stronger and stop protruding. The whole procedure takes approximately 90 minutes and is done in an office setting.

Preparing for Corneal Cross-Linking Surgery

Recovery After Corneal Cross Linking

Vision Rehabilitation After Cross Linking

Contact Us Today for Corneal Cross Linking

Spindel Eye Associates is dedicated to providing patients with premier eye care in Derry, Londonderry, Windham, Raymond, and Bedford, NH. Corneal cross-linking is safe but may only be suitable for some. During an initial consultation, we can determine if corneal cross-linking is right for you. Contact us today to learn more or to schedule a consultation with our highly-qualified team of eye doctors. We look forward to serving you.

We serve Derry, Londonderry, Windham, Raymond, and Bedford

Spindel Eye Associates has excellent optometrists and ophthalmologists to treat your eyes with the utmost care.

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