About keratoconus treatment
Treatment of keratoconus is complex because the disease changes over time and affects both eyes differently. That said, the treatment often restores good vision. There are two keratoconus treatment options: non-surgical and surgical.
Non-surgical keratoconus treatment uses glasses or contact lenses to improve vision. Surgical treatments include collagen cross linking, the use of Intacs and intraocular contact lenses (ICL) as well as corneal transplants.
The best treatment option will depend on the type of keratoconus a patient suffers and how far the disease has progressed.
It’s important to note that keratoconus treatments are not cures. Rather, they aim to restore clear vision.
Non-surgical keratoconus treatment
In most cases the treatment for keratoconus will not require surgery. Indeed, eye glasses usually work well in the early stages of the disease. However, as it progresses most sufferers will need contact lenses.
Glasses for keratoconus treatment
In the early stages, glasses can be an excellent treatment option. In fact, people with mild keratoconus can get good vision with an expertly matched prescription from a keratoconus optometrist.
Contact lenses to treat keratoconus
Contact lenses are the most common keratoconus treatment. In fact, there are typically five different types of contact lenses used in treatment of the disease.
Soft contact lenses are a great treatment option for mild keratoconus. This is because are comfortable and they let oxygen pass through to the eye.
Rigid Gas Permeable (RGP) lenses are small, hard contact lenses that provide greatly improved vision. This is because they arch over the irregularly shaped cornea, presenting a smooth surface which helps focus light. These contact lenses also let oxygen pass through to the eye. RGP contact lenses are the most common type of keratoconus treatment.
The “Piggyback” contact lens system has the comfort of soft contact lenses as well as clarity of Rigid Gas Permeable lenses. In fact, the system uses two contact lenses at once – a gas permeable lens fitted on top of a soft contact lens.
These have a central rigid zone for correcting vision and a soft peripheral zone for comfort. Hybrid contact lenses are ideal for sport because they are more comfortable to wear.
These large contact lenses have the clarity of gas permeable lenses, but are much more comfortable to wear. This is because they rest on the white part of the eye (the sclera) and arch over the more sensitive cornea.
Hard contact lenses used in keratoconus treatment
Hard contact lenses (also known as Rigid Gas Permeable contact lenses), are smaller and harder than soft contact lenses. They are the most common type of keratoconus treatment.
Surgical keratoconus treatment
There are five types of surgical keratoconus treatment. These range from minimally to highly invasive.
Minimally invasive treament is common and effective, but more invasive surgical treatment is usually avoided. In fact it is only an option if someones vision has become unusable, or contact lenses have become too uncomfortable.
Corneal collagen cross linking
This is a minimally invasive procedure designed to strengthen the cornea. It works best during the early phase of keratoconus and can slow or even stop the misshaping of the cornea.
The procedure works by using specially formulated vitamin B2 eyedrops which – under ultraviolet light – create new, strengthening bonds between collagen fibres in the cornea.
Combined corneal cross linking + laser eye surgery
The aim of this combined procedure is two-fold: Firstly to stabilise the condition and stop keratoconus getting worse; and secondly to reshape the surface of the cornea to improve vision.
Intraocular contact lenses (ICL)
These small, soft contact lenses are surgically inserted inside the eye through a small incision. While intraocular contact lenses can be of benefit to patients who are having difficulty wearing normal contact lenses, the procedure is considered invasive so not used often.
Intacs (intra corneal ring segments)
Intacs are clear, arc-shaped implants. They are surgically positioned into the cornea to reshape the surface of the eye so that vision is improved. However, this minimally invasive surgical procedure hasn’t given reliable results.
Corneal transplant
A corneal transplant is a highly invasive surgical procedure. Indeed, it involves grafting a donated cornea onto a patients own cornea.
However, a corneal transplant does not restore perfect vision. In fact, most patients will still need glasses or contact lenses. Fewer than 5% of people with keratoconus need to get a corneal transplant.
Keratoconus treatment with guidance from Dr. Jim Kokkinakis
Dr. Jim Kokkinakis has been treating keratoconus patients for decades. In fact, he is one of the foremost keratoconus optometrists in Australia.
Jim is also a Senior Lecturer at the Optometry School UNSW where he teaches on the subject. In addition, Jim is a Fellow of the International Society of Contact Lens Specialists (ISCLS).
Book an appointment to learn more about the best keratoconus treatment for you.
Learn more about keratoconus
How contact lenses helped my keratoconus
Contact lenses have been a part of Helen's life for almost 50 years and she is so grateful to have them for her vision correction for keratoconus.
I could still design and sew beautiful gowns, even with keratoconus
Carol was diagnosed with keratoconus in the 1970's, yet she went on to design and sew spectacular evening gowns.
Living with keratoconus
Our patients share their stories of living with keratoconus. See how, with careful treatment, you can thrive in spite of keratoconus.
Keratoconus
Keratoconus is a condition that causes blurred vision and shortsightedness.
Keratoconus types
There are four main types of keratoconus including round cone, oval cone, forme fruste and keratoglobus.
Keratoconus symptoms
Keratoconus symptoms include itchy eyes, blurry vision, sensitivity to bright light and halos around lights at night.
