EyeWorld is the official news magazine of the American Society of Cataract & Refractive Surgery.
Issue link: https://digital.eyeworld.org/i/115557
February 2011 March 2013 "In the coming years, we could probably plan customized crosslinking treatment according to the age of patients and the severity of corneal disease," he said. As with any new procedure, particularly in children, safety and long-term outcomes should also be the focus of future research, said Vasilios Diakonis, M.D., Ph.D., University Hospital of Crete, Ophthalmology Clinic, Crete, Greece. Dr. Diakonis and co-investigators published in the November issue of the Journal of Refractive Surgery on the 18-month results of pediatric crosslinking in four patients.5 Dr. Diakonis also mentions the value of topography screening to diagnose keratoconus, and Dr. Lenhart concurs. "Even some feasibility studies of screening with topography would be a good idea, now that we potentially have a way to treat pediatric patients with keratoconus at an earlier stage," Dr. Lenhart said. Dr. Lenhart and Emory University are hoping to get approved this year a clinical trial for the compassionate use of crosslinking for keratoconus in the pediatric population. Additionally, Dr. Trattler runs the CXLUSA (Chevy Chase, Md.) multicenter clinical trial, which allows for treatment of children as young as age 8. Dr. Hafezi is researching crosslinking performed with a higher intensity and a new chromophore other than riboflavin, ideally to shorten treatment time. He has plans underway to enable general ophthalmologists, not just corneal surgeons, to perform crosslinking. Dr. Hafezi and his wife are the initiators of a project called Light for Sight (www.lightforsight .org), a non-profit group that aims to bring crosslinking treatment to children and teenagers. EW Editors' note: Drs. Buzzonetti, Diakonis, Hafezi, and Lenhart have no financial interests related to this article. Dr. Trattler has financial interests with CXLUSA and CXLO (Chevy Chase, Md.). References 1. Caporossi A, Mazzotta C, Baiocchi S, Caporossi T, Denaro R, Balestrazzi A. RiboflavinUVA-induced corneal collagen cross-linking in pediatric patients. Cornea. 2012;31:227-231. 2. Vinciguerra P, Albe E, Frueh BE, Trazza S, Epstein D. Two-year corneal cross-linking results in patients younger than 18 years with documented progressive keratoconus. Am J Ophthalmol. 2012;154:520-526. 3. Chatzis N, Hafezi F. Progression of keratoconus and efficacy of pediatric corneal collagen cross-linking in children and adolescents. J Refract Surg. 2012;28:753-758. 4. Buzzonetti L, Petrocelli G. Transepithelial corneal cross-linking in pediatric patients: Early results. J Refract Surg. 2012:28;763-767. 5. Zotta PG, Moschou KA, Diakonis VF, et al. Corneal collagen cross-linking for progressive keratoconus in pediatric patients: A feasibility study. J Refract Surg. 2012;28:793-796. EW REFRACTIVE SURGERY Contact information Buzzonetti: lucabuzzonetti@yahoo.it Diakonis: 863-207-6919, diakonis@gmail.com Hafezi: 0+41 22 382 83 60, farhad@hafezi.ch Lenhart: 404-778-3431, plenha2@emory.edu Trattler: 305-598-2020, wtrattler@gmail.com Brilliant from Beginning to End.™ Protection you can count on for every phase of cataract surgery. The first and only viscous dispersive, DisCoVisc® OVD provides the flexibility of both cohesive and dispersive properties in a single syringe. DisCoVisc® OVD combines the excellent endothelial protection of chondroitin sulfate with the mechanical protection of superior space maintenance and clarity.1 To see how DisCoVisc® OVD can help protect your outcomes, visit AlconOVD.com. 1. Refer to directions for use. © 2013 Novartis 1/13 VIS12724JAD 83