Dr. Jim Kokkinakis is one of the most respected keratoconus specialists in Sydney. He has been treating keratoconus sufferers at The Eye Practice clinic for over 30 years. He is acknowledged for his expertise in both the treatment of keratoconus and in getting better vision for his patients.

The Eye Practice keratoconus clinic is located at Level 3/50 York Street, Sydney NSW 2000 Australia.

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What is keratoconus?

Keratoconus is an eye disease that affects how clearly you can see things, especially distant objects. Although sometimes near objects can also appear out of focus.

This blurry vision happens because of irregular astigmatism, that is to say the cornea is misshapen. Indeed, the cornea of keratoconus sufferers often bulges forward in a cone shape and is uneven, rather than being spherical.

Cross section of a normal eye and an eye with keratoconus. Treatment of keratocnus is essential.

Keratoconus usually develops when a person is in their 20s. As the condition progresses the cornea becomes more steep and thin, although it does tend to stabilise later in life.

There is no cure for keratoconus, so ongoing treatment is essential. Dr. Jim Kokkinakis provides world-renowned keratoconus treatment from is optometrist clinic in Sydney.

We map your cornea

Yellow and red areas show where the cornea is steeper.

What are the best treatments for keratoconus?

Keratoconus is a complex condition, so successful treatment often means carefully balancing three goals:

Improving vision,
Maintaining comfort, and
Being minimally invasive.

In the early stages the best treatment is often glasses or soft contact lenses. During the middle stages of the condition people often need more advanced hard contact lenses to fix their vision. In the most severe cases, treatment can involve surgery like collagen cross linking, the use of Intacs or intraocular contact lenses (ICL) as well as corneal transplants.

Non-surgical keratoconus treatment

Dr. Jim Kokkinakis often recommends conservative, non-surgical treatment plans for keratoconus sufferers who visit his Sydney clinic. These treatments include:

Prescription glasses, or
Special soft contact lenses.

Where the condition is more advanced Dr. Kokkinakis may recommend more advanced treatments including:

Rigid Gas Permeable contact lenses,
“Piggyback” contact lens systems,
Hybrid contact lenses, or
Scleral contact lenses.

Surgical options

Minimally invasive surgical treatment is both common and effective, but it is best practice to avoid the more invasive surgical options. Surgical keratoconus treatments include:

Corneal collagen cross linking,
Combined corneal cross linking + laser eye surgery,
Intraocular contact lenses (ICL),
Intacs (intra corneal ring segments) also known as Kera Rings, or
As a last resort, a corneal transplant.

What keratoconus treatment is right for you?

At The Eye Practice in Sydney we perform a comprehensive eye assessment to accurately diagnose your keratoconus and determine the right treatment. Just as importantly we also screen for other eye conditions that might require treatment.

If a diagnosis of keratoconus is made, Dr. Kokkinakis will explain how it may affect you. In addition, he will develop a treatment plan which may involve glasses, contact lenses or a treatment like corneal collagen cross-linking if your condition is acute.

Reasons to choose us for your keratoconus treatment

If you suffer keratoconus it is essential to find a clinic that has both experienced practitioners and cutting edge technology.

Dr. Jim Kokkinakis is recognised as one of Sydney’s leading keratoconus practitioners. Indeed, he specialises in treating the condition and teaches on the subject at the Optometry School UNSW. Jim is also a Fellow of the International Society of Contact Lens Specialists (ISCLS).

What’s more, the latest diagnostic and treatment technology is employed by Dr. Kokkinakis at his keratoconus clinic in Sydney.

If you suffer keratoconus Dr. Kokkinakis can guide you through the treatment options as well as recommending the best solution for you.

How much does keratoconus treatment cost in Sydney?

The cost of keratoconus treatment depends on your condition.

In the early stages, when people only need glasses, the cost can be minimal. However, the cost of more advance treatments like customised hard contact lenses can be in excess of $1,800.

Surgical options may cost more, depending on your level of private health insurance.

Once you have been diagnosed, the friendly team at The Eye Practice can advise how much your treatment will cost. This needs to be done on an individual basis as every case of keratoconus is unique and requires bespoke solutions.