UPDATE: This article has been designated as one of The Ophthalmologist‘s Top 10 articles of 2023!
“Ophthalmology is continuously evolving and striving to push boundaries” is what ELZA’s Medical Director, Prof. Farhad Hafezi told the ‘The Ophthalmologist‘ magazine in the article, “Corneal Cross-Linking: What’s New in 2023?” published last week.
In the article, he reveals how the team has moved beyond using corneal cross-linking (CXL) to address disease progression, focusing on the development of faster, more efficient treatment protocols.
"Another critical development, PACE, combines cross-linking with an epithelial map-guided PTK to enhance visual acuity."
For example, Prof. Hafezi not only showcases how the team at ELZA Institute has innovated to develop CXL beyond the the decades-old Dresden protocol method for corneal cross-linking, speeding up the process without losing its efficacy. A decade ago, his research group discovered that the rapid delivery of the Dresden protocol fluence would deplete oxygen—an essential component of the UV-riboflavin photochemical reaction. Today, however, ELZA’s surgeons and researchers have developed a new protocol that’s not only three times faster than Dresden but equally as strong, and have published promising early laboratory data, with an upcoming 2-year follow-up clinical data to validate these findings set to follow.
Prof. Hafezi dove deep into the latest advancements in keratoconus treatment, developed in coordination with Prof. Shady Awwad of the American University of Beiruit, called Phototherapeutic Keratectomy-Assisted Customized Epi-on corneal cross-linking, or more simply, PACE. PACE customized cross-linking combines epi-on corneal cross-linking with an epithelial map-guided PTK to enhance visual acuity – a development that is already changing what’s possible in terms of improving the visual outcomes of patients with corneal ectasias like keratoconus.
Moreover, Prof. Hafezi also discussed the challenges of treating ultra-thin corneas, offering a novel solution through the sub400 individualized cross-linking approach.
With these ground-breaking advancements, Prof. Hafezi not only highlights the progress ELZA and colleagues has made in the field in general but also offers an optimistic glimpse into the future. As their research continues, it brings us one step closer to providing even better outcomes for patients suffering from keratoconus.
