Researchers from Emory University in Atlanta have developed a new treatment for corneal disease called Keratoconus. This special procedure stabilizes the cornea, while reversing some of the other permanent changes in the integrity and curvature. The treatment called Corneal Collagen Cross-Linking includes few steps. Firstly, patients are given a topical anesthetic to avoid discomfort during the treatment. Removal of a thin layer of cells from the top of the cornea follows. Then, riboflavin drops are placed into the eye. This saturates the cornea for half an hour. After that, the eye is exposed to Ultra Violet A light for 30 more minutes. The UVA light interacts with the riboflavin to form chemical bonds between the collagen molecules in the cornea, stiffening it and helping it to retain a rounder shape. A soft contact lens is placed in the eye to protect the cornea. It is removed after three to five days. As the cornea heals and stiffens, the curvature gradually improves

In a study designed to compare the effects of contact lens wear versus spectacle wear on children on their sight, the use of soft contact lenses does not, clinically, accelerate myopic progression in children. These results, combined with earlier data on the safety of soft contact lenses in children, make a strong case that children can safely wear soft contact lenses. The author of the study that was sponsored by Johnson & Johnson Vision Care, Dr. Jeffrey J. Walline presented results at the Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology meeting. After using contact lenses for 3 years, the contact lens wearers weren’t more nearsighted than the spectacle wearers.