Keratoconus and Specialty Contact Lenses
What is Keratoconus?
Keratoconus is a type of corneal dystrophy that causes the cornea (the clear window that covers the colored part of the eye) to thin, leading to a protrusion or "cone" forming in the cornea. Patients with Keratoconus almost always require special contact lenses to allow them to see normally. Because the keratoconic cornea is very irregular, vision is extremely blurry. Contact lenses for Keratoconus provide a smooth round surface for the light to pass through, which clears vision significantly.
Are There Any New Treatments for Keratoconus?
Our doctors fit various types of contact lenses for patients with Keratoconus. For patients who have struggled with their hard contacts for Keratoconus, we can fit a scleral contact lens. Although this lens is large, it is quite comfortable and provides very good vision for most patients. If you have struggled with your lenses frequently popping off, feeling uncomfortable, or providing less than ideal vision for your Keratoconus or other corneal irregularity, see us for a scleral lens fitting. You'll be glad you did!
You may have heard about a treatment called "collagen cross-linking." This treatment is currently being used as a way to slow down, stop, or maybe even partially reverse some of the steepening of the cornea associated with Keratoconus. The procedure bathes the cornea with riboflavin (Vitamin B2), and then the cornea is exposed to intense UVA light. This treatment has limited FDA approval and is appropriate for keratoconic patients who are still experiencing progression (continued steepening).
For more information about keratoconus please visit:
www.treatkeratoconus.com or www.nkcf.org
If you would like more information on contact lenses for Keratoconus, or other corneal irregularities, please call us at (775) 358-1317.