FDA Approves New Therapeutic Treatment for Progressive Keratoconus

KXL SystemAvedro, Inc., an ophthalmic pharmaceutical and medical device company, has received approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for Photrexa Viscous, Photrexa and the KXL System. Together, this new system represents a significant milestone in the treatment of keratoconus, a progressive eye disease that causes a thinning of the cornea.

The KXL System is made for use with a keratoconus treatment option called corneal collagen cross linking, which uses riboflavin and UV light to strengthen the weakened cornea caused by the disease. This treatment is often performed in addition to the use of intacs, which are plastic polymer implants inserted into the cornea to help support its shape.

Keratoconus can occur in one or both eyes and often begins during a person’s teens or early 20s. The thinning of the clear front surface of the eye causes the normally round cornea to bulge into a cone-like shape that can dramatically impact vision. This progressive condition can often be difficult to detect, as it usually develops slowly. Symptoms include blurred vision, light sensitivity, progressive nearsightedness and difficulty seeing at night.

“Corneal cross-linking provides patients a much-needed option to treat this debilitating disease,” says Mary Prudden, Executive Director for the National Keratoconus Foundation. “Patients suffering from progressive keratoconus can now receive a therapeutic treatment that has been rigorously tested and approved.”

The KXL System is expected to be available for qualifying patients before the end of this year. Consult your Medical Eye Center ophthalmologist to determine if corneal cross-linking is right for you.

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