What is Keratoconus
Keratoconus is a progressive condition of the cornea where the cornea thins and becomes more irregular over time. This change results in blurring and distortion in the daytime vision and glare and halos in nighttime vision.
Read more about Keratoconus here:
www.livingwithkeratoconus.com/what-is-keratoconus/
https://www.livingwithkeratoconus.com/what-is-keratoconus/
What is Corneal Crosslinking
Corneal crosslinking is a procedure that strengthens the bonds of the corneal collagen fibrils. During the procedure, the surgeon uses Photrexa® Viscous (riboflavin 5’-phosphate in 20% dextran ophthalmic solution), Photrexa® (riboflavin 5’-phosphate ophthalmic solution), and the KXL® system to infuse the cornea with riboflavin. Then the Glaukos iLink cornea device is used to shine UV light to strenghten the bonds in the cornea. The entire procedure takes approximately 1 hour. The goal of crosslinking is to
· Create new corneal collagen cross-links
· Shortening and thickening of the collagen fibrils
· Stiffen of the cornea
The Glaukos iLink™ is the only FDA-approved therapeutic treatment for patients with progressive keratoconus and corneal ectasia following refractive surgery.
Is iLink™ Covered by Insurance?
The medical necessity of iLink™ has become widely recognized. As a result, commercial insurance coverage for iLink™ is now over 95% in the United States for covered lives. Only iLink™ is approved by the FDA and is covered by insurance. Typically, non–FDA-approved procedures are not covered by insurance and have not been proven safe and effective. For patients without insurance, cash-pay options are also available.
View videos about Corneal Crosslinking here:
iLink Patient Video (Closed Captions)