For Las Vegas residents suffering from keratoconus or corneal ectasia, a revolutionary new treatment is now available. Corneal Collagen Cross-Linking (CXL) uses UVA light in conjunction with riboflavin to strengthen corneal tissue to slow and even halt the progression of keratoconus.
Keratoconus is a condition in which the cornea weakens and becomes progressively thinner, causing its normally round shape to bulge out into a cone, resulting in high levels of astigmatism and nearsightedness. This condition can progress to the point of requiring a corneal transplant, but Dr. Wellish can use CXL to try to halt the progression, preventing the need for more extreme treatments. CXL works by strengthening and stabilizing the front layers of the cornea by saturating the cornea with vitamin B2 (riboflavin) and then exposing it to ultraviolet (UV) light. The UV light activates the riboflavin, stimulating the collagen fibers of the cornea to create more cross-links, strengthening and stabilizing the cornea. Doctor Kent Wellish was involved in the FDA study to get CXL approved in the United States. We are proud to have been a part of the study that made this groundbreaking treatment available.
