Symptoms
Does keratoconus need urgent treatment? The treatment of keratoconus is twofold. One is to prevent progression of the disease, because it’s a progressive disease, and the other is to provide vision correction.
Causes
Treatment options for keratoconus focus on correcting the distorted vision caused by the thinning and bulging of the cornea. Eyeglasses or Soft Contact Lenses Eyeglasses or soft contact lenses may be used to correct the mild nearsightedness and astigmatism caused by keratoconus in its earliest stage, however at some point a Rigid…
Prevention
Keratoconus is an eye disease that affects the structure of the cornea, resulting in loss of vision. Keratoconus occurs in approximately one in 2,000 individuals, typically beginning in puberty and progressing into the mid-30s. Early stages can be treated with glasses, but with progression of the disease into late childhood and early adulthood ...
Does keratoconus need urgent treatment?
There are currently several options before corneal transplantation might be required, including:
- Glasses
- Soft contact lenses
- Rigid gas permeable contact lenses. ...
- Rigid gas permeable lenses piggybacked on soft disposable contact lenses
- Mini-scleral contact lenses
- Intra-corneal ring segments with corneal collagen cross linking
- Prescribing glasses, soft contact lenses or rigid gas permeable contact lenses after intra-corneal ring segments treatment
What are the treatment options for keratoconus?
What is keratoconus, and how can it be treated?
How can you prevent keratoconus?
Which treatment is best for keratoconus?
Cornea transplant for keratoconus generally is very successful, but possible complications include graft rejection, poor vision, infection and astigmatism. Astigmatism is often managed by wearing hard contact lenses again, which is usually more comfortable after a cornea transplant.
Is there any new treatment for keratoconus?
Corneal Collagen Cross-linking (CXL) The minimally-invasive, advanced therapy slows down or stops the progression of the corneal deformation of keratoconus, by making collagen bonds in the cornea stronger, allowing it to become stiffer and usually stop bulging out.
How successful is keratoconus surgery?
About 19 out of 20 corneal transplants performed for keratoconus is successful and stays clear for at least 5 years. Who is suitable for corneal transplantation? If you have advanced keratoconus and are unable to wear contact lenses successfully, corneal transplantation is normally your best treatment option.
Can advanced keratoconus be cured?
There is no cure for keratoconus, but you can manage it effectively with treatment. The most effective treatment for this condition depends on its severity. There are several treatments available to help effectively manage keratoconus.
Can keratoconus be cured without surgery?
There are many Keratoconus doctors, especially here in the Los Angeles area, who want to get you onto their operating table as quickly as possible for a corneal surgery of one type or another, but what we find is that most patients can be treated non-surgically and enjoy a happy, normal life.
Is keratoconus surgery painful?
You shouldn't feel any pain during the procedure because your eyes will be numb. The entire treatment takes about 60-90 minutes.
Is a corneal transplant worth it?
A cornea transplant can restore vision, reduce pain, and improve the appearance of a damaged or diseased cornea. Most cornea transplant procedures are successful. But cornea transplant carries a small risk of complications, such as rejection of the donor cornea.
Can keratoconus be treated by laser surgery?
Laser eye surgery by itself is not possible in people with keratoconus because laser surgery removes corneal tissue and thins the cornea, resulting in further weakening and potentially exacerbating the keratoconus.
Can I live a normal life with keratoconus?
You can live a normal life with keratoconus. With the proper care and treatment from your optometrist, keratoconus shouldn't stop you from living your life to the fullest.
Can you go blind from keratoconus?
Can You Go Blind from Keratoconus? Although keratoconus can progress rapidly in the beginning, it rarely causes blindness. Most people develop this condition during puberty. First, there may only be myopia and astigmatism, but this can rapidly evolve into severely reduced and distorted vision.
How much is a cornea transplant?
During the surgery, the cornea is removed and replaced with a donor cornea. A corneal transplant is covered by most insurance policies but can cost between $13,000 and $27,000.
How to treat keratoconus?
Generally, there are two approaches to treating keratoconus: slowing the progression of the disease and improving your vision.
How to diagnose keratoconus?
To diagnose keratoconus, your eye doctor (ophthalmologist or optometrist) will review your medical and family history and conduct an eye exam. He or she may conduct other tests to determine more details regarding the shape of your cornea. Tests to diagnose keratoconus include: Eye refraction. In this test your eye doctor uses special equipment ...
What is the procedure called when the cornea is saturated with riboflavin?
Therapies. Corneal collagen cross-linking. In this procedure, the cornea is saturated with riboflavin eyedrops and treated with ultraviolet light. This causes cross-linking of the cornea, which stiffens the cornea to prevent further shape changes.
What is the procedure to remove scarring from the cornea?
Penetrating keratoplasty. If you have corneal scarring or extreme thinning, you'll likely need a cornea transplant (keratoplasty). Penetrating keratoplasty is a full-cornea transplant. In this procedure, doctors remove a full-thickness portion of your central cornea and replace it with donor tissue.
What is the best test to detect keratoconus?
Special photographic tests, such as corneal tomography and corneal topography, record images to create a detailed shape map of your cornea. Corneal tomography can also measure the thickness of your cornea. Corneal tomography can often detect early signs of keratoconus before the disease is visible by slit-lamp examination.
What is the best way to evaluate your eyes?
Some doctors may use a hand-held instrument (retinoscope) to evaluate your eyes. Slit-lamp examination. In this test your doctor directs a vertical beam of light on the surface of your eye and uses a low-powered microscope to view your eye. He or she evaluates the shape of your cornea and looks for other potential problems in your eye.
What type of contact lens is best for keratoconus?
Hard contact lenses. Hard (rigid, gas permeable) contact lenses are often the next step in treating more-advanced keratoconus. Hard lenses may feel uncomfortable at first, but many people adjust to wearing them and they can provide excellent vision. This type of lens can be made to fit your corneas. Piggyback lenses.
What is the best treatment for keratoconus?
10. Corneal transplant . Some people with keratoconus can't tolerate a rigid contact lens, or they reach the point where contact lenses or other therapies no longer provide acceptable vision. The last remedy to be considered may be a cornea transplant , also called a penetrating keratoplasty (PK or PKP).
How to treat progressive keratoconus?
Treatments for progressive keratoconus include: 1. Corneal crosslinking. This procedure, also called corneal collagen cross-linking or CXL, strengthens corneal tissue to halt bulging of the eye's surface in keratoconus. The aim of corneal cross-linking is to strengthen the cornea by increasing the number of "anchors" that bond collagen fibers ...
Why does keratoconus bulge forward?
Research suggests the weakening of the corneal tissue that leads to keratoconus may be due to an imbalance of enzymes within the cornea. This imbalance makes the cornea more susceptible to oxidative damage from compounds called free radicals, causing it to weaken and bulge forward.
What causes keratoconus in the eye?
Keratoconus also is associated with: 1 Overexposure to ultraviolet rays from the sun 2 Eye rubbing 3 A history of poorly fitted contact lenses 4 Chronic eye irritation
What is the condition where the cornea is distorted?
Keratoconus is a progressive eye disease in which the normally round cornea thins and begins to bulge into a cone-like shape. This cone shape deflects light as it enters the eye on its way to the light-sensitive retina, causing distorted vision.
What are the symptoms of keratoconus?
Keratoconus signs and symptoms. As the cornea becomes more irregular in shape, it causes progressive myopia and irregular astigmatism to develop, creating additional problems with distorted and blurred vision. Glare and light sensitivity also may occur.
What is the purpose of corneal crosslinking?
The aim of corneal cross-linking is to strengthen the cornea by increasing the number of "anchors" that bond collagen fibers together. (Diagram: Boxer Wachler Vision Institute) There are two versions of corneal crosslinking: epithelium-off and epithelium-on.
Best Keratoconus Treatments and Commonly Accepted Clinical Practices
At this time, Scleral Contact Lenses and Corneal Cross-Linking (CXL) are, without question, considered among the best keratoconus treatments. These treatments won’t benefit every patient; however, it’s highly your keratoconus specialist will discuss their use.
About Dr. Richard Driscoll
Dr. Driscoll is a therapeutic optometrist and keratoconus specialist at Total Eye Care in Colleyville, Texas. A 1988 Graduate of the Illinois College, Dr. Driscoll has been treating patients with keratoconus for over 30 years. Following Dr.
How to treat progressive keratoconus?
This one-time, in-office procedure involves the application of a vitamin B solution to the eye, which is then activated by ultraviolet light for about 30 minutes or less. The solution causes new collagen bonds to form, recovering and preserving some of the cornea’s strength and shape.
What are the risks of keratoconus?
The following may increase the risk of developing keratoconus: 1 Genetics. Patients with a family history of keratoconus or with certain systemic disorders, such as Down syndrome, are at a higher risk of developing keratoconus. 2 Chronic eye inflammation. Constant inflammation from allergies or irritants can contribute to the destruction of corneal tissue that may result in developing keratoconus. 3 Eye rubbing. Chronic eye rubbing is associated with developing keratoconus. It may also be a risk factor for disease progression. 4 Age. Keratoconus is often discovered in the teenage years. Generally, young patients with advanced keratoconus are more likely to need some form of surgical intervention as the disease progresses.
What is the purpose of collagen in the eye?
Collagen makes the cornea strong and flexible, and helps keep its regular, round shape. This healthy cornea focuses light so you can see clearly. With keratoconus, the cornea thins and bulges into an irregular cone shape, resulting in vision loss. Keratoconus generally begins at puberty and progresses into the mid-30s.
Why does keratoconus cause collagen loss?
This may be caused by some imbalance between production and destruction of the corneal tissue by the corneal cells.
How long does it take for a corneal transplant to complete?
In a corneal transplant, a donor cornea replaces the patient’s damaged cornea. Corneal transplants are often performed on an outpatient basis and take about an hour to complete. Vision usually remain blurry for about three to six months after the transplant, and medication must be taken to avoid transplant rejection.
How long does it take for a corneal ring to be implanted?
Intacs are implantable, plastic, C-shaped rings that are used to flatten the surface of the cornea, allowing improved vision. They may also allow a better contact lens fit. The procedure takes about 15 minutes.
What is the thickest part of the cornea?
The cornea is the clear, outer layer at the front of your eye. The middle layer is the thickest part of the cornea, mostly made up of water and a protein called collagen. Collagen makes the cornea strong and flexible, and helps keep its regular, ...
What age group is most likely to notice signs of keratoconus?
Older teens and young adults are the most likely age group to begin noticing signs of keratoconus. Treatment for keratoconus usually involves the use of lenses that have been custom-fitted to the patient’s eye to sharpen their vision.
What are the factors that affect the treatment of eye disease?
When it comes to choosing the right treatment for you, several factors affect what will work best, including the shape of your eye, the severity of your condition, and other personal details about you, your health, medical history, and lifestyle. Your eye doctor can help you make the best choice.
Is scleral lens good for keratoconus?
Their high level of comfort and personalized fit make scleral lenses one of the best treatment options for keratoconus.
Can keratoconus be treated with contact lenses?
Specialized contact lenses for keratoconus can improve your vision and possibly even delay or eliminate the need for surgery. Here are some of the newest and best options today for keratoconus lenses. Rigid gas permeable lenses. RGP lenses are among the most widely prescribed treatments for keratoconus.
