The 2015 year was a big year for corneal surgery, which included discussions on collagen crosslinking and corneal transplant techniques.
Here are five highlights:
1. Corneal surgeons thought 2015 would be the year collagen crosslinking for the treatment of keratoconus would be approved in the United States, but the FDA's decision on Avedro's KXL system is not expected until April 2016.
2. Surgeons are also waiting on approval for crosslinking in the United States. Outside the United States, surgeons are combining topography-guided PRK with crosslinking, or manipulating the corneal shape with intracorneal ring segments or an implantable contact lens.
3. Potentially, crosslinking may be used as an alternative to LASIK to correct lower degrees of myopia, astigmatism and hyperopia.
4. According to Peter S. Hersh, MD, of The Cornea and Laser Eye Institute-Hersh Vision Group in Teaneck, N.J., the evolution of descemet's membrane endothelial keratoplasty and the ability of eye banks to better prepare the tissue was a turning point in 2015.
5. Deep anterior lamellar keratoplasty is increasing in popularity.