What is the C3R procedure?
C3R is a non-surgical procedure. Only known procedure that is proven to halt the progression of the dreaded Keratoconus. This treatment now offers an end to a lifetime of waiting and uncertainty for Keratoconus patients. This is a simple one-time treatment that offers a permanent solution to Keratoconus.
What is C3-R®* (corneal collagen cross-linking) treatment?
Jun 15, 2020 · Corneal Collagen Crosslinking with Riboflavin (C3R Treatment) or CXL, is a one-time application of riboflavin eye drops to the eye that has shown great results in treatment for Keratoconus. The riboflavin, when activated by approximately 30 minutes illumination with UV-A light, augments the collagen cross-links within the stroma and so recovers some of the …
Can C3-R®* help Keratoconus patients?
C3R or Corneal Collagen Cross-linking with Riboflavin- CXL or C3R is a non-surgical procedure which is performed to halt or impede the progression of Keratoconus. It is …
Does C3R stop the deterioration of vision?
Jan 14, 2011 · C3R is designed to increase the number of cross-linkages between the collagen proteins and prevent the cornea from bulging out any further. The C3R Procedure. During the C3R procedure, eye drops containing riboflavin are introduced to the cornea. After the cornea adequately absorbs the eye drops, ultraviolet light is placed over the eye.
Is C3R permanent?
What are the advantages of C3R surgery? One of the main benefits of Corneal Collagen Crosslinking, which has demonstrated long-term stability, is that it is a less invasive treatment as compared to corneal transplants. Apart from this, it is a permanent treatment.Oct 18, 2020
Why is C3R done?
Corneal Collagen Cross-Linking with Riboflavin (also abbreviated as C3R) is a non-invasive corneal treatment shown to slow the progression of keratoconus. It does so by increasing the strength of corneal tissue. Undergoing C3R in the early stages may help stabilize vision.
What is done in C3R surgery?
C3R involves one-time application of riboflavin drops to the eyes. Riboflavin is activated with exposure to UV rays. This process increases the collagen cross-linking in the stroma and thus increases the corneal tissue strength, which helps to recover and stabilise the vision.Aug 2, 2021
How successful is C3R?
Comparatively, C3R is not a cost-effective method to relieve the irritating symptoms of bullous keratopathy. The success rate of anterior stromal puncture for relieving pain is 65%, which is similar to the C3R procedure.
How painful is C3R?
C3R is a painless procedure but post operatively u might experience some pain for 2-3 days. Healing takes 1-2 wks and thereafter u should be fine.Aug 23, 2016
How is C3R performed?
The treatment is performed under topical anesthesia (using anesthetic eye drops). The surface of the eye (cornea) is treated with application of Riboflavin eye drops for 30 minutes. The eye is then exposed to UVA light for 30 minutes. Hence, the treatment takes about an hour per eye.
Can C3R be detected?
It classically has its onset at puberty and is progressive until the third or fourth decade of life when it usually arrests. Keratoconus can be detected clinically by slit lamp examination by an Ophthalmologist and the diagnosis can be confirmed by corneal topography.
Can vision improve after C3R?
While C3R treatment generally does not lead to significant improvement in the inherent vision of the eye, however, as the corneal curvature flattens and the surface stabilizes, the best corrected visual acuity with spectacles and contact lenses improves.
Can C3R be repeated?
The answer to this is, in principle, “yes”.
What are the side effects of cross-linking?
Here are some common side effects of cross-linking surgery:Feeling like something is in your eye (called “foreign body sensation”)Being sensitive to light.Having dry eye.Having hazy or blurry vision.Feeling eye discomfort or mild eye pain.
What is the difference between CXL and c3r?
The CXL procedure is an invasive, surgical procedure that painfully scrapes the cornea epithelium. The Holcomb C3-R procedure is a non- surgical procedure that lets you return back to work the next day with no complications.Jan 30, 2017
What is Keratoconous?
Keratoconus is a progressive disease of the outer transparent layer of the eyeball called the cornea affecting children and young adults. It is characterized by progressive weakening and thinning of the normally round cornea causing it to bulge forward and assume a cone-like shape.
How is the treatment done?
The treatment is performed in our operation theatre under complete sterile conditions. Usually, only one eye is treated in one sitting. The treatment is performed under topical anesthesia (using anesthetic eye drops).
Who can benefit from this treatment?
Collagen cross-linking treatment is not a cure for keratoconus, rather, it aims to slow or even halt the progression of the condition. This is important to understand.
How does Cross Linking arrest keratoconus?
Until recently, there was no method to change the integrity and strength of the cornea itself for keratoconus patients. The non-invasive treatment C3R Treatment (corneal collagen cross-linking riboflavin) treatment has been proven to strengthen the weak corneal structure in keratoconus.
What are the risks and consequences involved?
Very few potential risks associated with this treatment have been reported so far. The Ultraviolet light dose used is designed to prevent damage to the cells that line the back of the cornea or the other structures within the eye. No lens opacities (cataracts) have been attributed to this treatment in European trials.
What is C3R treatment?
It is a non-invasive, out-patient procedure that stabilizes the cornea by increasing the number of crosslinks in the collagen. No other treatment option available addresses this. If the procedure is done in the early stages of the condition, the use of rigid gas permeable contact lenses can be avoided. This type of contact lens is usually prescribed to correct vision problems associated with keratoconus. In addition, since C3R halts the bulging of the cornea, scarring of the cornea becomes less likely with age. This reduces the chances of requiring a cornea transplant later in life.
What is the treatment for keratoconus?
One of the newer and promising treatment options for keratoconus is corneal collagen crosslinking with riboflavin, or C3R. C3R addresses the root cause of keratoconus, namely the instability of the corneal tissue. The cornea consists of collagen, which is made of proteins. In individuals with keratoconus, the linkages between the proteins are not sufficient enough to hold the round shape of the cornea. C3R is designed to increase the number of cross-linkages between the collagen proteins and prevent the cornea from bulging out any further.
Can keratoconus be treated with riboflavin?
Not everyone with keratoconus can benefit from corneal collagen crosslinking with riboflavin. The C3R procedure for keratoconus is for individuals that have mild to moderate bulging and don’t have any scarring on the cornea. These individuals can receive treatment to prevent further bulging. Individuals with advanced keratoconus or have scarred corneas usually can’t benefit from the procedure. They usually require a corneal transplant.
