Your cornea, the clear, dome-shaped surface at the front of your eye, plays a crucial role in focusing light and helping you see clearly. But what happens when the cornea becomes weak and starts to bulge outward, distorting your vision? This is what happens in a condition called keratoconus, and if left untreated, it can cause significant vision problems over time.
What Is Keratoconus?
Keratoconus is a progressive eye disease that causes the cornea to thin and gradually bulge into a cone-like shape. This irregular shape prevents light from focusing correctly on the retina, leading to blurry or distorted vision.
People with keratoconus may experience:
- Increased sensitivity to light and glare
- Blurry or distorted vision
- Frequent changes in eyeglass or contact lens prescriptions
- Difficulty seeing clearly at night
The exact cause of keratoconus isn’t fully understood, but it’s often linked to genetics, eye rubbing, or conditions like allergies or connective tissue disorders. But when diagnosed early, there are advanced treatments available to help stop its progression—one of the most effective being corneal cross-linking.
How Corneal Crosslinking Helps
Corneal cross-linking (CXL) is a groundbreaking, minimally invasive procedure that strengthens the cornea to halt the progression of keratoconus.
As explained by Dr. Ryan Smith, one of the cornea, cataract, and refractive specialists at Pacific Eye Institute:
“Cross-linking is a procedure developed to help treat patients with keratoconus to stop the progression of their disease. In cross-linking, we scrape the outer skin cells off the cornea, apply a vitamin solution, and use a UV light. Together, that stiffens—or cross-links—the cornea to stop it from warping, locking in the vision that you have and preventing the condition from worsening.”
This innovative treatment works by strengthening the collagen fibers within the cornea—much like reinforcing the framework of a building—to prevent further bulging or distortion.
What to Expect During the Procedure
Dr. Smith explains that the procedure is simple, quick, and performed right in the office:
“It takes about an hour to an hour and a half, and it’s relatively comfortable. We give you numbing drops, and then you go home. We do one eye at a time.”
Because cross-linking is designed to preserve vision rather than restore lost vision, early diagnosis and treatment are key. Once keratoconus has advanced too far, it may require more invasive procedures such as corneal transplant surgery. That’s why regular eye exams and early intervention are so important.
The Benefits of Crosslinking
Patients who undergo corneal cross-linking can experience several benefits, including:
- Slowed or halted progression of keratoconus
- Improved corneal stability and structure
- Reduced risk of future vision loss
- Minimally invasive treatment with quick recovery
- Performed in-office with numbing drops for comfort
With advanced technology and expert care, Pacific Eye Institute is proud to offer cross-linking as a safe and effective treatment option for patients diagnosed with keratoconus.
Take Control of Your Vision Health
If you’ve been diagnosed with keratoconus—or you’ve noticed changes in your vision that concern you—don’t wait. Early detection and treatment can make a lasting difference.
Schedule your comprehensive eye exam today at Pacific Eye Institute by calling (800) 345-8979 and learn if corneal cross-linking is right for you.
What our Patients say about us:
“Dr. Smith is great! He explain to me what he was going to do on my eye in detail, made me feel comfortable before the surgery,He even called me at home personally later that day to see how I was feeling,and if I had any questions.Would highly recommend Dr.Smith!”
“I love Dr. Soni, he has been monitoring my keratoconus for many years. He’s fast and thorough. Very kind natured and cares about his patients.”
