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â'œC3R crosslinking only treatment to halt progression of Keratoconus,â' says Dr SPS Grewal C3R Crosslinking, Latest Advancement in Ophthalmology, Internationally Launched This Month, Ray of Hope for Lacs of Indian Keratoconus Patients Chandigarh, September 27, 2006 (InfoMailers.com) -- Grewal Eye Institute (GEI), the premier comprehensive Eye Care Institute based at Chandigarh, has achieved a new high in bringing the latest technological advancement in the field of eye care, by becoming the first and the only institute, not only in India, but in the whole Indian Sub-Continent to offer the revolutionary â'˜Corneal Collagen Crosslinking with Riboflavinâ'' (C3R) Treatment to the masses. The C3R procedure, the only known treatment that has recently been proven to permanently halt the progression of the dreaded Keratoconus disease, was commercially launched globally in the second week of this month itself. By procuring this once-in-a-decade technological break-through in less than two weeks of its launch, GEI is now one of the few eye institutes in the world and the only in Indian subcontinent, to offer comprehensive treatment now available for this previously untreatable disease. This was announced here today by Dr. SPS Grewal, CEO, GEI. The C3R Treatment is a ray of hope for lacs of Indian Keratoconus Patients, who, before the launch of this advanced procedure, were resigned to the vagaries of fate. This is because Keratoconus is amongst the most dreaded of eye diseases, as in most of the cases, the disease progresses relentlessly during the young age, does not have any acute symptoms initially and thus is often not detected in the early stages. In the advanced stages, the only treatment options available earlier were surgical insertion of â'˜Intacsâ'' or a â'˜Corneal Transplantâ'', both of which have limited success on many grounds, like trauma to the eye, numerous precautions required post-surgery and a long recovery period etc. Most importantly, from both the doctorsâ'' & patientsâ'' perspective, neither of the operations guaranteed a stoppage of the disease. There was always the possibility of setting in of Keratoconus again, even after the operation. This made the situation a frustrating one for both the patient and the doctor. Speaking at the press conference Dr S.P.S. Grewal, (CEO), GEI said, â'œC3R is a non-surgical procedure. Also it is the only known procedure that is proven to halt the progression of the dreaded Keratoconus. This treatment now offers an end to a lifetime of waiting and uncertainty for Keratoconus patients. This is a simple one-time treatment that offers a permanent solution to Keratoconus. It does not need heavy precautions or regular follow-up visits, does not need an eye donor as required in â'˜Corneal Transplantâ'', does not require any stitches or incision in the eye, takes just around one hour and the patient recovery is quick. This procedure is a boon for patients with keratoconusâ'. Keratoconus weakens the cornea of the eye causing the eye to bulge outwards and producing moderate to severe blurriness of vision. In the C3R procedure, the eye is impregnated with a riboflavin solution and exposed to ultra-high frequency light. C3R causes the collagen fibrils to thicken, stiffen, and crosslink & re-attach to each other, making the cornea stronger and more stable thus convincingly halting the progression of the disease. This technique can also be used in corneal ulcers and before LASIK treatment in high Myopes to reduce the risk of postoperative Keratectasia. Like all treatments, this procedure is most beneficial when performed at the earliest possible stage of Keratoconus when the visual and mechanical damage to the cornea is minimal. This is where the role of modern topography devices such as the Pentacam lies. The Pentacam helps to detect Keratoconus much before it can be detected in a clinical examination and ensures that the disease is permanently halted by C3R before any serious damage to the eye. The C3R procedure was launched internationally at the 24th Congress of the European Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgeons (ESCRS) held at London from September 9-13, 2006 where Dr SPS Grewal and team presented their research work on Pentacam. Speaking at the press conference DR SPS Grewal said, â'œIt is always our endeavour to bring the best, safest and the latest technologies & advancements in the field of eye care to patients in our region. The continued faith, patronage and trust of our patients in the region, nationally and internationally, inspires us to continue to push the limits of excellence and community service here at GEI. We are very happy to be the first and only institute in the Indian Sub-Continent to offer the C3R procedure. For the field of Opthhalmology the treatment of Keratoconus is as significant as bypass surgery or angioplasty in cardiology. It is matter of great satisfaction to us that our patients will be amongst the first to benefit from this revolutionary procedure. Today we reaffirm our commitment to lead the way in procuring and advancing cutting-edge solutions to eye diseases.â' *** Keratoconus and C3R â'' A Few Details Keratoconus Keratoconus is a degenerative non-inflammatory disorder of the eye in which structural changes within the cornea cause it to thin and change to a more conical shape than its normal gradual curve. Keratoconus can cause substantial distortion of vision, with multiple images, streaking and sensitivity to light all often reported by the patient. Though frequently thought of as a rare condition, Keratoconus is the most common dystrophy of the cornea, affecting around one person in a thousand. It is typically diagnosed in the patientâ''s adolescent years and attains its most severe state in the twenties and thirties. The course of its progression following diagnosis is unpredictable. If in both eyes, the deterioration in vision associated with the disease can affect the personâ''s ability to drive a car or read normal print. Over 90% of patients have involvement of both eyes, though it is not unusual for there to be asymmetric changes, with one eye being more involved than the other. The abnormal curvature of the cornea due to Keratoconus changes the corneaâ''s refractive error producing moderate to severe blurriness of vision. Keratoconus is an irregular protrusion of the cornea, the clear surface over the colored part of the eye. It is similar, structurally, to the crystal of a watch. If this crystal or windowpane is not smooth, the light will not bend evenly and an irregular image will be formed, like looking through a bumpy piece of glass. Diagnosis of Keratoconus The only clue to a Keratoconus diagnosis may be from corneal measurements or a corneal topography map. A topographical map of the cornea will show the high and low spots on the cornea, much like a topographical map of the earth will show the mountains and oceans. This is where the role of modern topography devices like the Pentacam lies. The Pentacam helps to detect Keratoconus much before it can be detected in a clinical examination. â'˜Corneal Collagen Crosslinking with Riboflavinâ'' (C3R) The latest revolutionary Keratoconus treatment is C3R (Corneal Collagen Crosslinking with Riboflavin) that has been proven to strengthen the weak corneal structure. This method works by increasing collagen crosslinking, which are the natural â'œanchorsâ' within the cornea. These anchors are responsible for preventing the cornea from bulging out and becoming steep and irregular, consequence of advanced Keratoconus. C3R causes the collagen fibrils to thicken, stiffen, and crosslink & reattach to each other, making the cornea stronger and more stable thus provenly halting the progression of the disease. This technique can also be used in corneal ulcers and before LASIK treatment in high Myopes to reduce the risk of postoperative Keratectasia. The Procedure The C3R treatment is performed in just 30 minutes. During the treatment, custom-made riboflavin eye drops are applied to the cornea, which is then activated by ultraviolet light. This amazingly simple process has been shown in laboratory and clinical studies to increase the amount of collagen cross-linking in the cornea and strengthen the cornea. The Advantages of C3R over other treatments Contact Lenses â'' RGP Contact Lenses In mild or early stages, eyeglasses or normal contact lenses may correct the astigmatic vision. Contact lenses in Keratoconus are not easy to fit, usually not very comfortable. They need constant maintenance and frequent follow ups with the doctor. As Keratoconus advances, rigid gas-permeable (RGP) contact lenses maybe the only non-surgical way to achieve clear vision. But contact lens fitting of a patient with Keratoconus requires much care and frequent check-ups, because the condition can worsen. Most importantly, they do not arrest the progress of disease. Also there can be scarring as a result of contact lens wear causes problems of its own. Intacs A recent surgical alternative to corneal transplant is the insertion of intrastromal corneal ring segments. A small incision is made in the periphery of the cornea and two thin arcs of polymethyl methacrylate slid between the layers of the corneal stroma on either side of the pupil, the incision then being closed. The segments push out against the curvature of the cornea, flattening the peak of the cone and returning it to a more natural shape. However intacs do not inherently alter the biomechanical structural integrity of the cornea and thus may not be a permanent solution. If the refraction changes over a period of time after inserting the intacs rings they would need to be removed. Another advantage of C3R over Intacs is that C3R does not involve any incisions as in Intacs. Corneal Transplant A corneal transplant may be needed when vision cannot be corrected satisfactorily using other procedures such as contact lenses and glasses, or if painful swelling cannot be relieved by medications. A corneal transplant, also known as a corneal graft, or as a penetrating Keratoplasty, involves the removal of the central portion called a button of the diseased cornea and replacing it with clear healthy donor button. The donor cornea button is sewed into the defect created by removal of the diseased cornea. But a corneal transplant is dependent on eye donation and requires a long healing period. The recovery of vision may not be very good. Long term studies show that Keratoconus can recur even after Keratoplasty. Adavantages of C3R Simple one time treatment No periodic treatments required Halts the progress and causes some regression It is permanent No handling of lenses every day Does not need any eye donation No precaution No injection No stitches as in Keratoplasty No incisions as in Intacs Quick recovery, short follow up. For Further Information, Please Contact :: Hospital Contact :: Dr. S. P. S. Grewal (Former Associate Professor, Deptt. of Ophthalmology, PGIMER, Chandigarh) Grewal Eye Institute The Premier Institute for COMPLETE Eye Care (ISO 9001:2000 Certified) SCO 166-169, Sector 9-C, Madhya Marg, Chandigarh - 160 009 (India) Ph : +91-172-2747118, 5018969, 98140 16169 Fax : +91-172-2744843 Mail : drgrewal@gmail.com Website : www.gei.co.in Editorial Contact : QuikRelations Chandigarh +91-98140-08919 pr@quikgroupindia.com KEYWORDS: Healthcare, Biotechnology, Medical News, News, Health For latest corporate and business news, logon to http://www.infomailers.com Submit your press release at http://www.InfoMailers.com