Keratoconus is a surprisingly common disease that results in an irregular cornea shape. While a normal cornea has an evenly rounded dome shape, a cornea affected by keratoconus becomes steeper and cone-like in shape. The conical shape distorts light and creates multiple focal points on the retina. Distorted light leads to distorted vision, with most keratoconus patients reporting blurred vision that is distorted, ghosted, or overlapping. Glare, flares, and halos are often issues as well.
At the CLEI Center for Keratoconus, we understand that vision problems like these can severely impact your quality of life, which is why we are dedicated to providing thorough, customized treatment plans for each and every patient we treat. We begin with a comprehensive examination using the latest technology to understand exactly how your cornea and vision is being affected by keratoconus. Then, we take a three step approach to treatment designed to (1) stabilize your cornea, (2) improve your corneal shape, and (3) correct your long-term vision. To achieve these goals, we have a wealth of tools, resources, and procedures at our disposal.
Glasses for Keratoconus
For many keratoconus patients, glasses will not adequately correct vision problems. The reason is that while traditional glasses and soft contact lenses can correct lower order aberrations like nearsightedness, farsightedness, and astigmatism, they can’t correct higher order aberrations or HOAs. Most keratoconus patients have several lower and higher order aberrations because of the distorted shape of the cornea, making restoring vision with glasses next to impossible.
That said, in more mild cases of keratoconus, traditional glasses (or soft contacts) can help. When keratoconus patients have LOAs that are much worse than their HOAs, glasses may be able to provide reasonably good vision.
Specialty Contact Lenses for Keratoconus
There are several types of specialty contact lenses available for keratoconus patients. These include:
- Custom soft contact lenses
- Custom corneal gas permeable (GP) lenses
- Custom piggyback (PB) lens system
- Custom hybrid lenses
- Custom scleral lenses
How do you know what kind of specialty contact lens is best for you? When you schedule an appointment at CLEI for specialty keratoconus contacts, you’ll receive an in-depth evaluation by our team of experts. To determine what kind of lens will best correct your vision, we may perform scans, impressions, or use diagnostic lenses. This kind of thorough evaluation allows us to understand which type of lens will meet your specific needs, giving you the best possible vision. Once we’ve narrowed it down to a specific lens type, our specialists will create custom contact lenses to fit your eyes.
Corneal Crosslinking (CXL) for Keratoconus
Corneal crosslinking (CXL) is a treatment that halts the progression of keratoconus. This procedure is not performed to improve your vision, rather, it helps to preserve your current vision, and prevent your vision from deteriorating with keratoconus progression over time. How does it work? Riboflavin (Vitamin B2) and ultraviolet A light are administered to your cornea. These two elements interact causing a photochemical reaction that results in additional molecular bonds between collagen molecules and their supporting biological sugars to form. With strengthened bonds, the cornea stiffens and is less prone to further bulging and distortion. At CLEI, we offer standard crosslinking treatments, as well as crosslinking options for our keratoconus patients.
Keratoconus Surgery
Because keratoconus causes a corneal shape deformation, surgery to improve the corneal shape is often (but not always) indicated. Improving corneal shape surgically will allow you to have better quality of vision when wearing soft contacts or glasses, and in some cases it can even improve the quality of your uncorrected vision. There are a few different types of surgery that can be done to improve corneal shape. These include:
- Corneal tissue addition keratoplasty (CTAK)
- Topography-guided PRK
- Intracorneal Rings (Intacs)
- Keratoplasty (corneal transplant techniques)
Not every keratoconus patient requires a corneal reshaping procedure, but getting evaluated at a center that offers all of these techniques is the best way to learn whether you may benefit from one of them. Our CLEI doctors are innovators and experts who are skilled at selecting the right corneal reshaping treatment or surgery to optimize vision for each individual patient.
Conclusion
Keratoconus is a serious condition that can have a significant impact on your vision and quality of life. By exploring all of the treatment options available, you can prevent keratoconus progression to maintain and optimize your vision long-term.
Schedule an appointment with our keratoconus specialists today to learn about the treatment options you can benefit from.
