Keratoconus is the most common corneal dystrophy in the US, affecting one in every 2,000 Americans. (Facts About the Cornea and Corneal Disease: NEI)
Keratoconus is a disorder in which structural changes within the cornea cause the eye to change its normal shape to a conical shape. That may cause a distortion of vision, with multiple images, streaking and sensitivity to light. Keratoconus in both eyes, may affect driving and reading ability.
Cross linking is a vital component in treating Keratocounus. This involves peeling the epithelium in order to penetrate a special material. The Epi Clear™ device is ideal for this procedure and offers a safe, effective alternative.
EBK™ – Cross is the only procedure that removes the epithelium layer by layer, leaving Bowman’s layer completely intact and creating clear and graduated borders that enables maximal riboflavin absorption for enhanced healing enables uniform riboflavin absorption for faster and enhanced re-epithelialization.
With EBK™ epithelium-off crosslinking, the outer portion of the cornea (epithelium) is removed to allow the application of riboflavin, a type of B vitamin, into the cornea, which then is activated with UV light.
Epithelium-off corneal crosslinking allows faster penetration with liquid riboflavin and requires less riboflavin loading time. Corneal crosslinking with riboflavin and UV-A light has proven to be an ideal first-line treatment for people with eye conditions such as Keratoconus, pellucid marginal degeneration and corneal weakness (ectasia) after LASIK.
EBK™ creates the optimal conditions for successful corneal cross linking and lowers risk of haze. EBK™ completely preserves corneal bio-mechanical integrity, protecting the cornea from further damage, and creates optimal conditions for regularized and smooth corneal epithelium healing compared with other mechanical epithelium removal methods. In addition, EBK™ reduces post-op pain and lowers risk of complications
EBK™ procedure live – courtesy of Dr. Cosimo Mazzotta, University Hospital of Siena, Italy:
