Treatment of keratoconus. Cross-linking

The medical centre AILAS was the first to use this method in Ukraine. Today our clinic has the official status of the official training centre for the cross-linking method to the doctors of Ukraine.

The medical centre AILAS is the first to be equipped with special devices of the last generation for the cross-linking procedures http://www.peschkemed.ch.

For the procedure performance the principle of the lamp of Ziler is used.

Under the influence of specially modeled and dosated ultraviolet light (of the A-specter) there proceeds the photochemical reaction of ionization and disintegration of the riboflavin molecules accompanied by the release of free atomic oxygen. Under the influence of atomic oxygen there proceeds linking of collagen into the indivisible three-dimension net.

This hardens the cornea tissue and stops progression of keratoconus.

Biomechanical researches have shown increase of mechanical rigidity of the cornea by 328.9%!

After the procedure of cross-linking the process of the cornea hardening starts immediately and is being further developed during a year and longer. All this time the configuration of the cornea is also being somewhat changed due to its increasing density.

As a rule already in 3-4 months there is noted hardening of the central part of the cornea. Alongside with this the patient notices decrease of the astigmatism on average by 2 dioptres and, correspondingly, improving of his sight.

At the initial stage of the disease and moderate astigmatism it is possible after the procedure to use ordinary soft contact lenses, as well as to achieve comfortable and well bearable correction for glasses.

In order to get maximum high sight and get rid for good of contact lenses and glasses, after complete stabilization of the process it is possible to perform the sight correction by implantation of intraocular contact lenses.

The very procedure consists of several stages:

1. To ensure better penetration of riboflavin into the cornea the surface layer of the cornea is taken off in sterile conditions, after which the cornea is gradually saturated with the medicine by dripping in certain intervals of time.

2. After reaching the necessary concentration of riboflavin in the tissue the cornea is strengthened by the focused ray of ultraviolet light of the lamp of Ziler.

The whole procedure takes about an hour and proceeds comfortably and painlessly. After the procedure the patient puts on therapeutic contact lens for 2 or 3 days and uses special drips accelerating the process of regeneration of the epithelium on the surface of the cornea. The treatment is conducted once and provides stable results for 8-10 years, however it can be repeated in case of need.

Historical information:

The cross-linking method was invented by Professor Theo Ziler. The first procedure concerning keratoconus was conducted in Germany in 1998.

Nowadays there are more than 350 centers in the world, where this method is used.

AILAS is officially registered as the center, having the right not only to conduct the procedure of the cross-linking, but also to train the doctors of the European region.

1) Every year thousands of procedures of strengthening the cornea by the cross-linking method (UV-X) are conducted in Europe.

2) In Europe thousands of procedures of strengthening the cornea by the cross-linking method (UV-X) are conducted every year.

Nowadays cross-linking is used to treat keratoconus, keratitises and dystrophies of the cornea.

The UV-X method and the lamp of Ziler haave got the European Certificate (СЕ). The results of ten-year clinical observation have shown stability of the results achieved by them. The method meets all modern requirements of safety.

In 2008 Prof. Ziler got the highest award of the American ophthalmological society – Kelman prize for the most innovative invention in ophthalmology for the last 10 years!

Head Doctor of the medical center AILAS Kovalev Andrey Ivanovich accomplished in 2006-2007 the original training course by Prof. Ziler and has corresponding certificates. In 2007 our medical center certified the cross-linking method and the lamp of Ziler in the ministry of health of Ukraine. The medical center AILAS is official representative of the Swiss IROC company, producing the lamp of Ziler.