Global Pediatric Ophthalmology Congress

Biography

Biography: Enrique Suarez

Abstract

The major concerns in pediatric keratoconus comprise of the accelerated progression of the disease in the pediatric age group and management of co-morbidities such as allergic or vernal kerato-conjuntivitis. In Saudi Arabia, adverse environmental conditions, hereditary factors and consanguinity contribute frequently to visual impairment in pediatric patients due to Corneal Ectasia. The traditional treatment alternatives of visual rehabilitation such as spectacles, contacts lenses and keratoplasty (lamellar or penetrating) are more difficult to achieve in pediatric cases. Corneal collagen crosslinking (CXL) has been successfully utilized for more than a decade in adult patients halting or slowing the progression of the disease and more recently in pediatric keratoconus. It seems quite reasonable to treat not only eyes that demonstrate rapidly progressive keratoconus with corneal collagen crosslinking, but also those pediatric or adolescent eyes without documented progression of keratoconus before the disease potentially worsens. If longer-term follow-up demonstrates continued efficacy and more important, continued safety of this procedure, treating eyes with keratoconus before evidence of definite progression might become the standard of care.