Corneal collagen cross-linking, which began in Europe more than a decade ago, is now a well-established practice in the Asia-Pacific region.
Published by Ocular Surgery news, the official news publication of the Asia-Pacific Academy of Ophthalmology.
At first, Sandy Weatherhead dismissed her blurred vision as just a normal part of the aging process. "I thought 'Oh, I'm getting old. I need glasses," the 41-year-old Simcoe woman said. A couple of doctor's appointments later, Weatherhead learned her situation was far worse...
The advantages of Keralex for Keratoconus continues the research to match the expectations of patients that it may suit. As the only, quick to perform, non-surgical, non-invasive vision correction treatment for Keratoconus that reshapes the cornea without tissue removal.
Eberhard Spoerl, PhD, Frederik Raiskup-Wolf, MD.
Department of Ophthalmology, University Hospital Dresden, Germany.
The 20-year-old son of MediaCorp artists Edmund Chen and Xiang Yun underwent a cornea transplant recently after a contact lens infection six years ago had badly affected vision in his left eye.
Al-Aqaba MA, Faraj L, Fares U, Otri AM, Dua HS.
Conclusions: This study provides additional histologic evidence of the involvement of corneal nerves in keratoconus and suggests further that they may play a role in the pathophysiologic factors and progression of the disease.
Am J Ophthalmol.
Analyzing Keratoconus Susceptibility and Advancement: A Stitch in Time Saves Nine
How many unknowingly has or suffer from Keratoconus in Malaysia ?
Since May 2010 the Department of Molecular Biology at the University of Malaya, as well carrying out Genetic Studies into Keratoconus, has started screening for Keratoconus.
The research will cover the hereditary predisposition to Keratoconus and the susceptibility factors, including their functional characteristics and impact on the risk and the behavior of Keratoconus.
Two screening programs were done in Klang last year, and two have already have been done in Ipoh and Penang this year.
The team from the University of Malaya is headed by Prof MaryAnne Tan and Dr Rozaida Poh in association with Dr Jenny P Deva.
In Ipoh the screening was done at the Ipoh Specialist Hospital in cooperation with Dr Lam Fook Shim.
In Penang screening sessions was held at the Adventist Specialist Hospital in cooperation with Dr Tah Kheng Soon.
Our Ambulant Screening Team in Malaysia is pictured below with Dr Tah, which also includes two Nurses, two BSc Students and one Technician.
The Avedro Vedera KXS: Gold Winner of the Medical Device Excellence Award 2011 The Award Winning Avedro Vedera KXS Vision Correction Device
Avedro’s Vedera System® Wins Gold in the Medical Design Excellence Award.
Microwave Thermokeratoplasty with Corneal Collagen Cross-linking used to Treat Keratoconus
Studies of the combined procedure are currently under way in Europe and Turkey
The Lifetime Economic Burden of KC: A Decision Analysis Using a Markov Model
Rebenitsch RL, Kymes SM, Walline JJ, Gordon MO
Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri.
Purpose: To estimate the expected incremental lifetime cost of treatment of keratoconus compared to the expected cost of the treatment of myopia.
Design: Cost estimate from the patient's perspective using a Markov decision model.
Methods: We modeled a hypothetical cohort of people with clinically significant incident keratoconus as defined by the Collaborative Longitudinal Evaluation of Keratoconus (CLEK) Study. We included costs of clinic visits, fitting fees, contact lenses, surgical procedures, and complications. Survival curves of corneal transplants and associated complications were modeled using data from the 2007 Australian Graft Registry. Medical treatment regimens after surgery were defined by expert opinion.
Results: The expected value of the lifetime cost of the treatment of keratoconus over myopia was $25 168 with a standard deviation of $16 247 and a median of $17 596. The factors that most influenced the lifetime cost were the probability of initial corneal transplant and a subsequent regraft. The cost of routine care had relatively little influence on the lifetime cost of care.
Conclusions: The expected lifetime cost of treatment of keratoconus represents a significant cost to patients and payors. While the cost of routine care for keratoconus is not trivial, the primary factor influencing changes in the cost of care for keratoconus is the probability of corneal transplant. Combined with the significantly impaired vision-related quality of life and the relatively young onset of disease, the economic burden of the treatment of keratoconus represents a significant public health concern.
Am J Ophthalmol.
Something to shout about: The 6th International Congress of Corneal Cross-linking.
Milan, Italy, January 21 & 22, 2011.
The International Corneal Crosslinking Congress specializes in developing intuition in original thoughts and solutions to really maximize every patients visual potential, where ever they may be asking for more in the world.
The International Corneal Crosslinking Congress is where new breakthrough developments are independent from market forces, which in the end is what really gives patients maximum flexibility. What makes the International Corneal Crosslinking Congress unique is the experienced globe trotting in-house development teams, translating complex Keratoconus parameter requirements into deliverable benefits – where time to vision is crucial.
The International Corneal Crosslinking Congress are an experienced team of academics, medical and science driven professionals with industry leading innovators, specializing in visual need projection, implementing patient/clinical/medical and industry-scale future proofing care - a robust and accurate road map that is equipping us for the future, for happiness now. The people who make the International Corneal Crosslinking Congress what it has become today, come from culturally rich, diverse backgrounds, equals proficient in their fields who are highly determined to come together for the one wide-ranging quality they all have in common - the ability to deliver.
Listening and truly understanding each patient's visual requirements, medically and technically, allows us to provide innovative solutions. In order to attain this goal, at the International Corneal Crosslinking Congress, all the relevant aspects of modern corneal sciences was open for insightful analysis to enable and accelerate technological advancement. We are - Justifying Technologies - which translates into tangible benefits for patients; increased quality of care, an enhancement in freedom not feardom, cost reduction, getting your life back and speed to vision.
Below are the words to the 'three pillars' of the Global Keratoconus Foundation.
CREATIVITY
Always relishing a challenge, we are constantly exploring innovative ideas.
RESPONSIBILITY
Always wanting to remove the two letters “i” and “m” from the word impossible – so making the impossible, a possible. Our real work is all about solving problems.
COMMITTMENT
Always putting ourselves in the patients' position and then thinking about what we can do for them.
kcglobal
Topo-aberrometric, Refractive and Pachymetric analysis of Keratoconics eyes undergoing CXL
Paolo Vinciguerra M.D.
E. Albé M.D.
S. Trazza Orthottist.
Click Here
Read More
Istituto Clinico Humanitas, University of Milan, Italy.
Live National Webcast on the 21st of October at 12:30 pm EST
From this autumn there will be a series of National Webcasts
featuring first's on subjects such as
"Not a Lasik candidate", to a broadcast special on "Keratoconus"
Which can be seen at the Channel 4 website live
by logging on to news4jax.com
at 12:30 pm EST on the 21st of October
Arun C. Gulani, M.D., M.S. will be answering questions submitted during this Webcast and others to follow, so you may send questions in advance by e-mailing:
This email address is being protected from spam bots, you need Javascript enabled to view it
When the Result Is Greater Than the Sum of the Parts
David Jory MBBS FRCOphth, Consultant Ophthalmologist
Advanced Surgery Center, The Technology Park, London.
CXL in the Treatment of Acute Post-Lasik Ectasia
Fellow of the Royal College of Ophthalmologists, Fellow of the Royal Society of Medicine, and Fellow of the Medical Society of London.
Teaching faculty member of the American Society of Cataract & Refractive Surgery, and the European Society of Cataract & Refractive Surgeons.
Effects of Corneal Collagen Crosslinking on Corneal Topography, Visual Acuity and Contrast Sensitivity
Camila Netto MD ; Bruno Procópio MD ;
Ricardo Gomes dos Reis MD ; Mariana Pecego MD ; Lorena Vianna ;
Haroldo Vieira de Moraes Jr. MD, PhD ; Adalmir Morterá Dantas MD, PhD.
Click Here
Read More
Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
The World Ophthalmology Congress (WOC) Berlin 2010
The 32nd International Congress of Ophthalmology, the World Ophthalmology Congress (WOC) is the largest international congress of ophthalmology.
WOC® 2010 awards medals to outstanding ophthalmologists
In the spirit of achievement and excellence at WOC 2010, Bruce Spivey, president of the International Council of Ophthalmology (ICO) awarded five ophthalmologists with medals for their outstanding work.
The prestigious Gonin Medal went to Dr Alan Charles Bird.
The International Duke Elder Medal was awarded to Dr Mohammad Daud Khan.
The Jules Francois Golden Medal went to Dr Gisele Soubrane, the first woman to ever receive a medal from the international council.
The ICO Ophthalmic Pathology Award went to Dr Ursula Schlotzer-Schrehardt.
Finally, Prof Peter G Watson, the current Academia Ophthalmologica Internationalis (AOI) president gave the Bernardo Streiff Gold Medal to Dr Gullapalli N Rao.
The Russian Hungarian Connection: Doctor Artsybashev Vs Keratoconus
Covered by our International News Correspondent
Peter Goren
Click Here
Read More
Peter Goren is an American medical student at Semmelweis University in Budapest, Hungary.
Implantable Lens Gives US Bobsled Captain Vision to Win Gold
Steve Holcomb Credits the Visian ICL with Restoring His Eyesight and
Enabling Historic Victory.
The Gold Winning Team
Jacksonville, Fl. -- March 6th, 2010 -- Just two years ago, U.S. Olympic bobsled team captain and gold medal winner was dealing with eyesight that was so impaired due to Keratoconus it threatened to end his bobsledding career.

Team Captain Steve
"It got to a point in 2008 where I couldn't see anymore," Holcomb said in an interview with NBC.
"They couldn't make contacts strong enough. I went to my coach and told him I had to quit." But that was before Holcomb learned about the Visian ICL (Implantable Collamer Lens) - an implantable lens approved by the US FDA to treat patients with up to -20 diopters of nearsightedness. Holcomb had the Visian ICL implanted in both eyes, and his vision immediately improved from a reported 20/500 (legally blind) to 20/20.
With normal vision restored, Holcomb was able to resume his career and achieve Saturday's historic victory piloting the U.S. Bobsled four-man team to its first Olympic gold medal in 62 years.
The Visian ICL is made of Collamer, a proprietary, highly bio-compatible material that allows the lens to be rolled into a tiny cylinder for insertion into the eye during an outpatient procedure. Once inserted, the lens gently unfolds behind the iris, where it is tucked into place by the surgeon.
Implanted in more than 150,000 eyes worldwide, the Visian ICL offers a far wider treatment range for nearsightedness than LASIK.
Jacksonville Eye Surgeon, Keratoconus specialist and internationally renowned instructor, Dr. Arun Gulani has performed similar breakthrough cases. Surgery experience video of Jacksonville patient, Tony Shelton, who suffered with the identical eye condition as Steve Holcomb, is available below.
Tony Shelton & Dr Gulani
“This is a Miracle. I am amazed" - Tony
Dr. Gulani believes that Visian ICL is a great addition to out current modalities of correcting Keratoconus. Since ICL is used for High myopia, it can be utilized in cases of Keratoconus where the Myopia (nearsightedness) is extreme thereupon correcting it without impacting the thin cornea. The ICl can further be combined with CXL/ C3R, INTACS, Lamellar corneal surgery and Laser surgery.
News from the First Global Patient's Story of Corneal Crosslinking
Valeri
Keratoconus Member and Founder of the Bulgarian Keratoconus Association
It's been almost five years since I returned home to Bulgaria from Dresden, Germany, where kind and professional people at the Carl Gustav Carus Faculty of Medicine did the new, at the time, procedure called Crosslinking and where I had my Crosslinking treatment. As Crosslinking is the first ever treatment for Keratoconus and invented at the Technische Universität Dresden, it was Dresden, the natural choice, where long ago I had my Crosslinking treatment.
These where memorable days for me as they changed my life. It was the time that I learned not only from friends from our forum, but also from my personal experience, the subtleties of the condition. It took me two years to realize from research that hard lenses are more dangerous than is usually discussed, and they should be "handled with care” by being used with extreme caution and attention. This was the time in which my eye sight worsened and the cornea's of my eyes distorted, because of the constant rubbing that I experienced with badly fitted hard lenses (which I did not know at the time was happening). I had just found a good optician that fitted me perfectly in hard lenses in Greece, when I contacted German professionals, and after which Corneal Crosslinking was performed to treat my Keratoconus one time.
After the first months passed my vision stabilized. I am glad that after five years I can say that my vision has stayed the same. I was fitted with glasses once my vision had stabilized, and since then I am still wearing glasses when before only hard lenses could correct my vision. Recently the parameters for my glasses were slightly changed; this was because my current optician did a better refraction examination for the fitting of my glasses, not because the eye had changed. To say the least, I am eternally grateful for the vision and the life I have now. I am still using glasses reaching 100% correction from both eyes.
I still sometimes remember that my eyes are not perfect, but also that they are perfect considering the fact I can wear glasses now fully, and this was only due to having Crosslinking alone as a treatment, which was a great bonus in my case. To me able to wear glasses comfortably without the need (or the need to endure the on-going risks) of medical contact lenses is nothing short of an absolute blessing to be able to do, and everyones right to be able to do with out the need for not only invasive contact lenses but also invasive surgery, and the chance for this should be made available for them. I find my eyes are more relaxed while reading than before treatment, with there being now better uncorrected vision also. You know, I stay 9 to10 hours per day in front of the PC at work. I am still trying to change this habit, but work is something which is mandatory for me..
In the early days before I knew not to, I used to rub my eyes using fingers in to my eyes when using the palm of my hands would have been better, now I know its better to avoid any trauma to the eye altogether. During the time I had to use hard lenses - whilst putting them in to my eyes and taking them out, there was plenty of friction and rubbing caused as well. I used to put pressure on my eyes without realizing the damage I was doing. After I changing my attitude, and after my Crosslinking treatment, I managed to stabilize my vision and from that have been able to live a normal life up to now. It is a great feeling to finally being treated and having eyes which are strong now at the front, when previously they where not. What was needed from my side to achieve this was so little and simple. I just started handling my eyes with more care, and by doing so, getting the eye care that was required as equally, and as early and as quickly as I could, which is what reaped its rewards. What I was sure about was since my first report on my treatment, Crosslinking would (and has) become available to patients globally.
There is no way to predict the distant future to come, but reading the news of the latest advances in medicine, I feel very positive that most and hopefully all of us will cope in a certain way with this condition, and we will have the chance to live our lives, full of value.
Keraflex and Annular Collagen Crosslinking: A New Treatment Modality for Keratoconus
Peter S. Hersh, M.D. Cornea and Laser Eye Institute – Hersh Vision Group
Click Here
Read More
CLEI Center for Keratoconus Professor,
UMDNJ Medical School Visiting Researcher, Princeton University.