We perform the innovative treatment of keratoconus - the UV riboflavin cross-linking - and also corneal transplantations using a state-of-the-art femto laser.
Keratoconus is the progressive protrusion of the cornea, resulting in variations and decrease of visual acuity. The UV riboflavin cross-linking, i.e. a cross-linking for mechanical stabilisation of the corneal tissue, is deemed to be the method for future treatment of keratoconus. The physicians of Breyer Eye Surgery successfully apply UV cross-linking of the cornea for years.
Keratoconus
Keratoconus increasingly occurs with respective family history, thus indicating inheritance. However, currently it is only ascertained that frequent rubbing of the eye for years, e.g. in case of allergies, favours its formation. During progress, the cornea is increasingly protruded and gets a more conical shape. The consequences are: variation of visual acuity, decrease of visual acuity, perception of light rings around sources of light - the so-called halo - as well as increased light sensitivity and dazzling.
UV riboflavin cross-linking
Whilst cross-linking is part of the standard in many other medical fields, it is quite new in ophthalmology. UV cross-linking results in an increased number of cross-links between the fibres of the tissue - like a network that is equipped with additional strutting, thus becoming more stable. For the cornea, such cross-linking is achieved by a combination of UV radiation and administration of riboflavin eye drops, a vitamin B2 derivative. The large success proves the reliability of this method, as its alternative, the corneal transplantation, is connected to higher risks.
Corneal transplantation
If surgery of cornea (keratoplasty) becomes necessary, e.g. replacement of affected corneal tissue by donated cornea or corneal transplantation, then we will be able to perform such surgery. We perform this using the femto laser of the latest generation - the VisuMax of Carl Zeiss Meditec AG. If required, we cooperate with our partner, the Marien Hospital Düsseldorf.