{"id":27799,"date":"2024-01-09T20:32:51","date_gmt":"2024-01-09T19:32:51","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/eyelaser.at\/crosslinking-how-long-does-the-effect-last\/"},"modified":"2024-01-09T20:32:51","modified_gmt":"2024-01-09T19:32:51","slug":"crosslinking-how-long-does-the-effect-last","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/eyelaser.at\/en\/crosslinking-how-long-does-the-effect-last\/","title":{"rendered":"Crosslinking &#8211; how long does the effect last?"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Crosslinking is an effective method of treating keratoconus that can slow or stop the progression of the disease.<br \/>\nA frequently asked question from patients is: &#8220;How long does the effect of crosslinking last?&#8221;. <\/span><\/p>\n<h2><b>Immediate effect<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Immediately after crosslinking, there is often a stabilization of the cornea.<br \/>\nThe main purpose of the treatment is to strengthen the cornea and stabilize its shape.<br \/>\nWithin the first weeks and months after the procedure, many patients notice an improvement in the corneal structure and a reduction in deformation.  <\/span><\/p>\n<h2><b>Long-term stability<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Studies and clinical observations have shown that the effect of crosslinking is long-lasting in most cases.<br \/>\nMany patients experience sustained stabilization of their cornea for five to ten years or longer.<br \/>\nLong-term studies report continued efficacy for up to 10 years after treatment, with most patients showing no further progression of keratoconus.  <\/span><\/p>\n<h3><b>Factors influencing the long-term nature<\/b><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The long-term success of crosslinking can depend on several factors:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Age of the patient:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Younger patients may have a higher risk of progressive disease, which requires regular follow-up checks.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Severity of the keratoconus:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Repeated treatment may be required for advanced stages.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Compliance with postoperative instructions:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Careful aftercare and avoidance of eye rubbing contribute to long-term stability.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2><b>Need for follow-up treatment<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In some cases, a new crosslinking treatment may be necessary, especially if the keratoconus progresses despite the first treatment.<br \/>\nHowever, these cases are relatively rare and usually affect patients with very aggressive forms of the disease. <\/span><\/p>\n<h2><b>How long do Intacs work for keratoconus?<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Intacs, also known as intrastromal corneal rings, are small, semi-circular plastic implants that are inserted into the cornea to change its shape and stabilize it.<br \/>\nThese rings offer an alternative treatment option for patients with keratoconus.   <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">After the implantation of Intacs, many patients notice an immediate improvement in their vision.<br \/>\nThe rings work by flattening the irregular shape of the cornea and thus improving vision.<br \/>\nThis initial effect can be very noticeable, especially in patients with mild to moderate keratoconus.  <\/span><\/p>\n<h3><b>Long-term effectiveness<\/b><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The long-term effectiveness of Intacs can vary.<br \/>\nIn most cases, the rings remain effective for several years.<br \/>\nStudies have shown that in many cases the implants remain stable and improve vision for five years or more.<br \/>\nSome patients report a lasting effect and stabilization of corneal shape for more than a decade.   <\/span><\/p>\n<h3><b>Need for adjustments or removal<\/b><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In some cases, it may be necessary to adjust the position of the Intacs or to remove them.<br \/>\nThis may be necessary if the rings do not have the desired effect or if complications arise.<br \/>\nThe procedure to remove or adjust the Intacs is relatively straightforward and usually has no long-term negative effects on the cornea.  <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The crosslinks of the cornea regenerate every six to seven years.<br \/>\nAt the same time, it must be borne in mind that the natural crosslinks in the body increase with age.<br \/>\nTherefore, the likelihood of <a href=\"https:\/\/eyelaser.at\/en\/stitching-cxl\/\">crosslinking<\/a> having a lasting effect is higher at an advanced age.  <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Children are still at a very young age six to seven years after crosslinking treatment.<br \/>\nIf the crosslinks have fully regenerated after this period, there is a higher probability that the disease will progress again.<br \/>\nIn this case, renewed CXL treatment is sensible and effective.  <\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Crosslinking is an effective method of treating keratoconus that can slow or stop the progression of the disease. A frequently&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":9,"featured_media":23018,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[141],"tags":[142],"class_list":["post-27799","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-faqs-en","tag-crosslinking-glossary-en"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/eyelaser.at\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/27799","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/eyelaser.at\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/eyelaser.at\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/eyelaser.at\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/9"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/eyelaser.at\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=27799"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/eyelaser.at\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/27799\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/eyelaser.at\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/23018"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/eyelaser.at\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=27799"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/eyelaser.at\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=27799"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/eyelaser.at\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=27799"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}