Lasik Eye Surgery - New System Helps Correct Common Post-Op Problem

Avedro, Inc. recently announced that its KXL System, used to carry out accelerated corneal cross linking, has been awarded the EU’s CE Mark. This signifies that the KXL System meets with European safety and health requirements, and this designation also leads the way for commercial use with the European Community.

Before Avedro’s KXL System was available, cross linking procedures took up a significant portion of the time required for a normal Lasik eye surgery procedure. Corneal weakening is a common result during regular Lasik operations, and cross linking helps restore the strength and stamina to the stressed cornea. Now with the KXL System, cross linking takes only minutes and is a common part of a standard Lasik procedure today.

“Corneal weakening occurs as a result of every Lasik surgery. Lasik Xtra is one of Avedro’s new procedures made possible by its KXL System. Lasik Xtra can restore the strength of the cornea with a simple five-minute treatment accompanying Lasik surgery. Lasik Xtra helps patients avoid the risk of post-Lasik ectasia, which has become a troublesome and unpredictable problem,” said David Muller, PhD, President and CEO of Avedro.

“In addition, our accelerated KXL procedure offers a much more acceptable treatment for patients with keratoconus and for those already suffering from post-Lasik ectasia.”

“I expect Lasik Xtra will become the standard of care during a Lasik procedure due to its ability to restore the cornea to its original strength,” explains John Marshall, PhD, FMedSci, FRCPath, FRCOphth(Hon). “Cross-linking is well known to surgeons throughout the world and Lasik Xtra makes an already familiar procedure faster, easier and more acceptable.”

Avedro is a non-publicly owned medical device company centred in Waltham, MA. It is currently in multi-centered Phase III studies of corneal cross-linking for the treatment of progressive keratoconus and post-Lasik ectasia. The company expects to begin US trials by year’s end.