Your eyesight is a subject not to be taken lightly. Protecting your eye health and vision is an important factor in your quality of life. For patients looking for an eye specialist Houston offers highly qualified doctors who use the latest technologies to improve vision and protect their eyes. In fact, Dr. Goosey is one of the only eye specialists in Houston using a unique corneal crosslinking treatment to help patients treat keratoconus. This cutting edge approach crosslinks collagen and riboflavin – the same vitamin found in milk and eggs – to increase collagen within the cornea and can help people living with keratoconus protect their cornea and their vision.
Keratoconus occurs when the collagen crosslinks, the body’s natural bonds that hold the cornea in place, are not numerous or strong enough to hold the cornea in place. Weakened or diminished collagen crosslinks in the cornea result in the cornea becoming misshapen, bulging, steep and irregular. This irregular shape causes major vision impairment and continual loss of vision as the keratoconus progresses. If not stopped, patients may require a surgical corneal transplant to halt the condition’s progression or suffer from a total loss of vision.
How Does The Collagen Crosslinking Treatment Work?
Collagen crosslinking with riboflavin, also known as CXL, increases and strengthens the collagen crosslink anchors and prevents the progression of keratoconus. Using customized riboflavin drops to saturate the cornea, the drops are then activated with an ultra violet light. Once activated, an increase in collagen is achieved and the collagen crosslinks are better able to strengthen and hold the cornea in place.
What Results Should Patients Of CXL Expect?
While CXL is a major advancement in the treatment of keratoconus, it is not a cure. CXL is a treatment designed to slow the progression of keratoconus and prevent further loss of vision. CXL may even be able to prevent the need for a surgical corneal transplantation saving patients time, money and worry over undergoing invasive procedures.
Patients who receive CXL treatment will still need to wear their glasses or contact lenses, but their prescriptions will likely need to be adjusted. After a successful CXL treatment, patients will enjoy the peace of mind in knowing that while their vision may not be perfect, they will no longer experience the gradual decline of their vision and their condition will not deteriorate into blindness.
Using CXL to slow down or stop the progression of keratoconus is the most advanced medical technology available and can help patients maintain and improve the level of eyesight they currently have. If you or someone you love is living with keratoconus, make an appointment with the CXL trained eye specialist Houston is fortunate enough to have. Contact Dr. Goosey’s office today to learn more and find out if you are a good candidate for the procedure. Visit the National Keratoconus Foundation at www.nkcf.org to find out more about the condition and the treatment. Your eyesight is precious. Protect and maintain it with help from the most unique and innovative treatment available, collagen crosslinking with riboflavin.
