Dear
colleagues, dear friends,
Though not recent, the keratoconus
will be in the ophthalmic limelight
on November 30th 2007 during the first
European congress on keratoconus.
The treatment of this disease –
a disease which nowadays remains the
first indicated cause for corneal
transplantation among young adults
– is at the beginning of a major
turning point in its evolution. That’s
why I am glad to coordinate the organisation
of this first congress with Pr Joseph
Colin. I am delighted at the collaboration
of the CRK with the Association Kératocône
to organise a meeting for patients
on that day.
I
think it is important, first and foremost,
to mention that all these advances
have been made possible thanks to
a better knowledge of the innermost
structure of this mysterious dystrophy.
With this aim in view, the numerous
histological works, particularly Professor
Pouliquen’s, have really brought
about the “modern” keratoconus
era. The advance of para clinical
exploration initially, and most importantly
of the topography of the cornea, have
allowed to make more and more precise
detection of its formes frustes, which
are real nightmares for the refractive
surgeon. More recent technologies
(aberrometry, Scheimpflug rotating
camera, genetic studies will no doubt
cast a new light on this difficult
diagnosis to the point of abnormality.
Contactology
has also advanced, with lenses increasingly
better fitting lenses that can be
adapted to the unusual fitting to
the unusual curvatures of keratoconus,
offering remarkable safety, quality
of vision and comfort. It has allowed
to postpone still further for as long
as possible the surgical operation
which is often dreaded by our young
patients. However, though still concerning
20% of these patients, the surgical
technique of transplantation has considerably
evolved too, thanks to the rapid expansion
of lamellar transplantations which
today allow to keep the patient’s
endothelium and thus lessen the risk
of rejection as much as possible.
Besides short of obtaining an etiological
the treatment of the keratoconus for
now thanks to the combined advances
of genetic therapy and molecular biology,
new preserving strategies are developing,
such as corneal collagen cross-linking
which could soon become a precious
tool in the fight against this dystrophy.
We
have finally been eager to devote
this first congress to post-LASIK
ectasia which is a particular but
connected entity, and which won’t
fail to (will undoubtedly) interest
all those who practise this kind of
surgery.
As you can see, the keratoconus is
now an ailment which is the target
of many new kinds of diagnostic and
therapeutic techniques, which create
wonderful hope for all our patients.
Hoping this meeting will give an overview
as comprehensive as possible of this
fascinating but nonetheless dreadful
disease, I will be seeing you in Toulouse
on November 30th!
Pr
François MALECAZE - CRK Toulouse
Dear friends,
