What is corneal ectasia and how is it treated?
Corneal ectasia is a rare eye condition that changes the structure of the cornea. It causes myopia (nearsightedness) and blurred vision (astigmatism), which worsen over time. What Causes Corneal Ectasia?
What are the treatment options for postoperative ectasia?
Recent Findings Management options for postoperative ectasia include conservative management with various types of contact lenses such as rigid gas permeable lenses, custom wavefront-guided soft contact lenses, hybrid lenses and tandem soft contact lens-rigid gas permeable lenses.
What causes ectasia in the eye?
Corneal trauma is another possible cause. External factors such as eye surgery, contact lenses, and frequent and aggressive eye rubbing have been associated with ectasia. 3,4,5.
What is the best treatment for keratoconus and post LASIK ectasia?
Corneal Collagen Crosslinking treatment for Keratoconus and Post-Lasik Ectasia. Collagen Crosslinking (CXL) has been shown to be an effective treatment for Keratoconus and Post-Lasik Ectasia. While not yet approved by the FDA, the 512 patient multicenter U.S. trial study has been completed and FDA approval is expected in 2014.
Can corneal ectasia be treated?
Treatments. Ectasia can usually be treated. Treatments for ectasia are similar to those used to treat a condition called keratoconus (another distortion of the eye's shape). Thanks to advancements in technology, some patients with ectasia can now benefit from a procedure called corneal collagen cross-linking (CXL).
What is ectasia in sclera?
Description. Corneal ectasia is usually referred to keratoconus, but can also be due to irregular astigmatism which is sometimes developed post a refractive surgery like PRK or LASIK. In both these cases, the cornea of a person will keep on bulging leading to worsening or loss of vision.
Is corneal ectasia serious?
Corneal ectasia is rare, but very severe. It is a complication of corrective surgery procedures to the eye.
Is ectasia the same as keratoconus?
What are ectasia and keratoconus? “Corneal ectasia” refers to a group of non-inflammatory disorders of the eye that involve the bilateral thinning of the cornea. Keratoconus is a specific type of corneal ectasia in which the cornea thins and weakens, leading to bulging and distortion.
How common is ectasia?
Ectasia is a rare complication of corneal refractive surgery, occurring in just 0.04% to 0.6% of procedures. One large study found that 96% of cases of ectasia occurred as a result of LASIK and 4% as a result of PRK.
What is the meaning of ectasia?
Medical Definition of ectasia : the expansion of a hollow or tubular organ.
What does corneal ectasia feel like?
Corneal Ectasia Symptoms include dry eyes, blurred vision, and an increase in the symptoms of myopia. Post-LASIK can also be a cause for Corneal Ectasia symptoms like distorted vision and thinning of the cornea.
How do you prevent corneal ectasia?
Prevention of Corneal Ectasia in Refractive SurgeryIDENTIFY AT-RISK CORNEAS. Additionally, proper patient selection may minimize the risk of corneal ectasia in patients undergoing refractive procedures. ... IDENTIFYING PATTERNS. ... IRREGULAR PACHYMETRY MAP.
Can LASIK cause ectasia?
Corneal ectasia is the most feared complication following LASIK (Tabbara and Kotb, 2006; Rad et al., 2004; Randleman et al., 2008a,b; Dawson et al., 2008; PIccoli et al., 2003; Ou et al., 2002; Pallikaris et al., 2001). It is characterized by progressive thinning with central and inferior steepening of the cornea.
What is the latest treatment for keratoconus?
Corneal Collagen Cross-linking (CXL) The minimally-invasive, advanced therapy slows down or stops the progression of the corneal deformation of keratoconus, by making collagen bonds in the cornea stronger, allowing it to become stiffer and usually stop bulging out.
Is there a surgery for keratoconus?
You may need surgery if you have corneal scarring, extreme thinning of your cornea, poor vision with the strongest prescription lenses or an inability to wear any type of contact lenses. Depending on the location of the bulging cone and the severity of your condition, surgical options include: Penetrating keratoplasty.
Can you get LASIK after cross linking?
When CXL is combined with LASIK, the refractive correction should remain stable over time, and post-LASIK ectasia may be prevented. Moreover, due to the increased stability of the postoperative result, patients who would normally be excluded from LASIK—those with a higher risk of ectasia—can be treated.
Everything You Need To Know About Corneal Ectasia Treatments!
Corneal Ectasia is a corneal condition in which there is a progressive …
Everything You Need To Know About Corneal Ectasia Treatments!
Corneal Ectasia is a corneal condition in which there is a progressive thinning of the cornea. This decrease in the corneal thickness leads to a series of clinical signs such as:
Corneal Ectasia Treatments
The treatments include the early diagnosis for which a precise and qualified assessment is necessary, as soon as possible, in a specialized ophthalmological center that has the latest technology in Corneal Ectasia treatments and the analysis of corneal biomechanics.
What is the procedure to remove corneal ectasia?
Laser eye surgery, such as laser-assisted in situ keratomileusis (LASIK), small incision lenticule extraction (SMILE), and photorefractive keratectomy (PRK) can also induce corneal ectasia.
What are the risk factors for corneal ectasia?
Possible Risk Factors. These are some factors that influence your risk for post-surgical corneal ectasia, including: Corneal thickness. This measurement tells the surgeon how much corneal tissue you have. During LASIK, the laser reshapes your cornea, which thins out the tissue.
What causes C orneal ectasia?
There are several causes of c orneal ectasia, including: Keratoconus is a corneal disease that causes gradual thinning and steepening of the cornea. The steepening causes the cornea to develop a cone shape, which is where the term keratoconus comes from. Studies show there may be a genetic component involved. ...
How to know if you have ectasia after lasik?
These are some potential signs and symptoms of post- LASIK corneal ectasia : Blurry vision or fluctuating vision.
What is the condition called when the cornea is thinning?
Corneal ectasia is an abnormal thinning of the cornea. The cornea is a transparent tissue covering the front of your eye and helps to focus light entering your eye. A healthy cornea is essential to maintain clear vision. Although rare, corneal ectasia is a sight-threatening condition that can cause permanent damage to the eye.
What is the condition that causes thinning of the cornea?
Keratoglobus is a rare eye disease that causes thinning of the cornea, particularly in the peripheral areas. Keratoglobus may be associated with connective tissue diseases (diseases affecting the skin, joints, and blood vessels) such as Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome. Laser eye surgery, such as laser-assisted in situ keratomileusis (LASIK), ...
What is the best test for astigmatism?
Corneal topography. Your eye surgeon may perform a corneal topography measurement to see if you show signs of corneal steepening, which can cause irregular astigmatism. Corneal tomography . This test can provide even more information than a corneal topography by imaging both the front and back surfaces of the cornea.
