Keratoconus Treatments

Exploring the options available to manage the condition and improve vision.

Treatment for Keratoconus depends on the severity of the condition and how quickly it is progressing. The goal is to provide clear vision and to stop the cornea from bulging further.

Early Stages: Glasses and Soft Lenses

In the earliest stages, standard eyeglasses or soft contact lenses can correct the mild nearsightedness and astigmatism caused by Keratoconus. However, as the disease progresses and the cornea thins and becomes more irregular in shape, glasses and regular soft contacts may no longer provide adequate vision correction.

Advanced Stages: Specialized Lenses and Procedures

For more advanced Keratoconus, the following treatments are common:

• Rigid Gas Permeable (RGP) Contact Lenses: These lenses vault over the cornea, replacing its irregular shape with a smooth, uniform refracting surface to improve vision.
• Scleral Lenses: These are large-diameter gas permeable lenses that rest on the white part of the eye (sclera) and vault completely over the cornea, providing comfort and sharp vision.
• Corneal Cross-Linking (CXL): A procedure that uses UV light and riboflavin eye drops to strengthen the collagen fibers in the cornea, halting the progression of the disease.
• Corneal Transplant (Keratoplasty): In very advanced cases with significant scarring or extreme thinning, a surgeon may replace the damaged cornea with healthy donor tissue.

"Modern treatments have revolutionized our ability to manage Keratoconus, allowing most patients to maintain good vision and avoid more invasive surgery."