New Treatment May Stop Progression of Eye Disease in Teens

Newswise — Denver, Colo. – Doctors have developed a new treatment capable of halting the progression of keratoconus, a progressive eye disease that manifests in teenagers. The research is being presented at the 2015 Annual Meeting of the Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology (ARVO) this week in Denver, Colo.

The new technique, called trans-epithelial cross-linking, was found to stabilize keratoconus at least two years after treatment. Stabilization reduces the need for progressively more burdensome treatment options in later stages of the disease, which ultimately requires a corneal transplant.

Keratoconus is a condition where the cornea – the front, clear and central part of the eye – begins to change from round to a cone-shaped surface.

Abstract Title: Trans-epithelial cross-linking for treatment of progressive keratoconus in eyes with thin corneaPresentation Start/End Time: Thursday, May 7, 12:30 – 12:45pm Location: 1EF Mile High BlrmAbstract Number: 5822

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The Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology (ARVO) is the largest eye and vision research organization in the world. Members include nearly 12,000 eye and vision researchers from over 75 countries. ARVO advances research worldwide into understanding the visual system and preventing, treating and curing its disorders.

All abstracts accepted for presentation at the ARVO Annual Meeting represent previously unpublished data and conclusions. This research may be proprietary or may have been submitted for journal publication. Embargo policy: Journalists must seek approval from the presenter(s) before reporting data from paper or poster presentations. Press releases or stories on information presented at the ARVO Annual Meeting may not be released or published until the conclusion of the presentation.