Aloha Laser Vision brings Epioxa keratoconus treatment to Hawaii

Aloha Laser Vision says it is the first practice in Hawaii to offer Epioxa, an FDA-approved epi-on corneal cross-linking treatment for progressive keratoconus. The Honolulu clinic says the new option could give patients a less invasive way to slow the eye disease without removing the cornea’s outer layer.

Why it matters: - Keratoconus can blur and distort vision, and it often starts in the teenage years or early adulthood. - Cross-linking is used to slow or stop the disease from getting worse. - Epioxa offers a less invasive option because it is designed to work with the corneal epithelium left in place. - The treatment may reduce recovery burden compared with traditional epi-off cross-linking.

What happened: - Alan Faulkner, MD, director of Aloha Laser Vision in Honolulu, announced that the practice is offering Epioxa for progressive keratoconus. - Aloha Laser Vision says it is the first practice in Hawaii to provide the FDA-approved epi-on treatment. - The clinic has offered corneal cross-linking in Hawaii for more than 15 years. - The practice previously used the traditional epi-off method.

The details: - Epioxa is approved for patients age 13 and older with progressive keratoconus. - The in-office procedure takes about 20 to 25 minutes per eye. - Treatment is done in three steps: drops are applied, oxygen-enriched goggles are fitted, and ultraviolet light is delivered. - Patients may notice temporary light sensitivity, redness, or blurred vision. - Some patients can have the second eye treated about a week after the first. - Candidacy is based on corneal mapping, thickness measurements, and medical history. - Epioxa may not be recommended for pregnant patients, people with a history of herpetic keratitis, people with a known sensitivity to the drops, or patients who had cataract surgery without a UV-blocking lens implant. - Traditional epi-off cross-linking usually takes about an hour and requires the removal of the epithelium, the cornea’s outer layer. - Dr. Faulkner said the healing period after epi-off treatment may require prescription-strength pain relief while the surface tissue regrows. - Aloha Laser Vision says it worked with Hawaii insurance carriers on reimbursement pathways, including buy-and-bill arrangements and specialty pharmacy coordination. - The practice says many patients have found the treatment financially accessible, and Glaukos’s CareConnect program is covering copayments.

Between the lines: - Hawaii patients with progressive keratoconus have had to rely on established cross-linking methods, so a local epi-on option narrows the gap with mainland care. - Dr. Faulkner frames the shift as an extension of the practice’s long experience with keratoconus, not a replacement for all prior care. - The emphasis on early evaluation suggests outcomes may be better before the cornea changes too far.

What's next: - Aloha Laser Vision expects more patients to be evaluated for Epioxa as awareness grows. - Dr. Faulkner said the practice wants Hawaii patients to access current keratoconus care without traveling to the mainland. - Early screening remains important because cross-linking works best before the cornea has changed significantly.

The bottom line: - Epioxa gives Aloha Laser Vision a new, less invasive keratoconus option in Hawaii and may make treatment easier for patients who want to preserve recovery time and stay local.