First US Service Members Treated with the Only FDA-Approved Cross-Linking Procedure in the U.S.

Avedro, Inc., an ophthalmic pharmaceutical and medical device company, has begun selling Photrexa Viscous® (riboflavin 5-‘phosphate in 20% dextran ophthalmic solution), Photrexa® (riboflavin 5’-phosphate ophthalmic solution) and the KXL® System to key military hospitals around the country. Fort Belvoir Hospital, located in Fort Belvoir, VA, made history on November 21st to become the first military facility in the country to perform FDA-approved corneal cross-linking, treating service members with progressive keratoconus.

"Military careers are often cut short when a service member is unable to be deployed due to being diagnosed with keratoconus. Previously, the only solution for these service members with progressive keratoconus was to wear specialized contact lenses. Because contact lenses aren’t approved for combat, otherwise great service members were forced to end their military careers before they intended," explained Army Col. Bruce Rivers, staff ophthalmologist and program director of the Warfighter Refractive Eye Surgery Program and Research Center at Belvoir Hospital. "This treatment at Belvoir Hospital provides hope to U.S. service members who now have a treatment that may allow them to be deployed."

Fort Belvoir Hospital treats more than 571,000 patients each year, including 56 percent active-duty service members and their families, and 44 percent retirees.

Since Avedro announced their full launch in September, the company has expanded into several military markets and shipped out treatments for several thousand patients.

"A great momentum has already been built since Avedro launched its product in September," said Reza Zadno, PhD, CEO, Avedro. "We are very proud of our role in helping patients with these sight-threatening diseases."