Cross-linking Shows Promise For LASIK Complication

OSN Supersite, reporting from the Hawaiian Eye Meeting today an article titled:  Early U.S. cross-linking study results positive for treating keratoconus, ectasia.

Marguerite B. McDonald, MD, presented early results of the prospective, block-randomized clinical trial of 292 eyes with either keratoconus or post-LASIK or post-PRK ectasia. Maximum keratometric value, best corrected visual acuity, uncorrected visual acuity and manifest refraction are being measured in the study.

"The interim conclusions look pretty good," Dr. McDonald said. "It halts the progression of keratoconus and ectasia after LASIK."

"We think it will become the standard of care for the treatment of corneal ectatic disease," Dr. McDonald said.

This is certainly exciting news.  Ectasia is one of the most difficult complications of LASIK surgery. It is a condition in which the cornea assumes a conical shape due to weakness, thinning, and anterior bowing of the corneal surface in patients following LASIK.  These patients may  have a  progressive corneal thinning and bulging.

The key to preventing post LASIK ectasia is proper screening of patients prior to surgery.  Several risk factors exist including:

• Thin corneas
• Irregularities in corneal topography
• Age
• Removing too much corneal tissue

Current treatment regiments for ectasia include:

• Spectacle correction
• Contact lens fitting
• Intacs
• Corneal transplant

Cross-linking of the cornea is a new curative approach to re-increase the mechanical stability of corneal tissue that is progressively decreasing as a result of a corneal disease such as ectasia, keratoconus, or pellucid marginal degeneration. The procedure of corneal cross linking was developed from 1993 until 1997 by Prof. Theo Seiler and Prof. Eberhard Spoerl at the University of Dresden. The first patients were treated in 1998. Today corneal cross-linking is performed in more than 300 centers around the world. In many centers it has the potential to become the standard treatment for ectasia and keratokonus thus preventing the need for corneal transplant.  It is currently undergoing clinical trials here in the US.  I am anxiously awaiting its approval.

Comments

[Randy Winstead]

Is there a site (FDA perhaps) where we can track the progress of approval ? Do not have any experience with the FDA process of approving tratments, so looking for some help.

Thanks -

[Cary Silverman]

None that I am aware of, but we will try to keep you up to date on this blog...