keratoconus: fingers crossed for a cure

Someone on FaceBook posted an interesting question about keratoconus, the eye disorder that afflicts Ethan. The question was whether we think there's hope for a "medicine for keratoconus in our lifetime.

By way of background, keratoconus is a weakening and/or thinning of the cornea. It gets distorted, typically forming a conical shape due to the pressure from behind it. The cause is unknown, there is some speculation. The treatment is a process called "crosslinking." Riboflavin drops are administered to the affected eyes as UV light gets shone on them. Under the UV light, the riboflavin bonds with the collagen in the cornea, thereby strengthening it and slowing or (hopefully) stopping the progression. I'm not a medical professional, but that's the nickel tour.

With that in mind, I answered yes. I do think medicine will be developed to treat keratoconus. Why? Because, essentially it has been. The riboflavin drops -- are essentially medicine. The fly in the ointment is that it has to be administered with UV light. Also, many believe it's not efficacious unless you first remove the epithelium from the cornea. But that means that the big issue is finding a way to deliver the riboflavin so without having to remove the epithelium. And, hopefully, without needing the UV light. I think -- I hope -- they're on their way.