UK Keratoconus Self-Help and Support Association

C3-R, developed at the Technische Universität Dresden, has been shown to slow or arrest the progression of keratoconus, and in some cases even reverse it, particularly when applied in combination with intracorneal ring segments. A recent study showed that when C3-R was combined with Intacs, twice as much improvement occurred compared to Intacs alone.[54

Patients who are over age 35 should also be aware that it is highly unlikely that their disease will progress so in such patients the procedure would be homeopathic at best and possibly harmful at worst.

I am currently advising my patients against having ... [C3R] until enough new and long term data are available. If they feel compelled to do something which might halt their progression they might want to consider INTACS as a better and safer alternative. Although no one has claimed that INTACS halt the progression of keratoconus there is some preliminary data which suggest that patients who have had INTACS and have had at least 8 years of follow up have demonstrated no significant progression of their disease.

This treatment claims to reverse keratoconus and stop its progression. Laboratory evidence performed to date by European investigators indicating that the collagen strength of the cornea is increased is quite good. The clinical evidence that it actually stops progression and reverses the disease is questionable at best. Clinical studies to date fail to convince me that there is any evidence that it retards the progression of the disease.

Long term longitudinal studies are required in which patients with the disease are followed over a long period of time compared to another group that has actively progressive disease to prove that this works. There is also currently lack of standardization as to how the treatment should be performed. My major concern is that if not correctly performed this procedure could result in long term damage to the retina resulting in irreversible visual loss.