Treatment for Keratoconus depends on the severity of the condition and how quickly it’s progressing. After you read the information below, please schedule an eye exam with one our our Weston’s eye practitioners.
What is Keratoconus?
Keratoconus is a condition affecting both eyes, causing a non-inflammatory protrusion or ectasia of the cornea. Recent studies have demonstrated that about 1 in 2000 people may be affected by keratoconus. Early forms of the disease can be undetected unless advanced scans of the surface of the eye are done. In general, keratoconus causes the cornea to become thinner and steeper with time causing decrease vision, which can range from mild to severe.
For mild cases of keratoconus, eyeglasses or soft contact lenses may be able to provide the patient with clear and comfortable vision. For highly irregular corneas, however, eyeglasses or soft lenses do not provide a good outcome for visual correction. Corneal rigid gas permeable lenses can provide a better alternative to improve visual acuity but do not protect the ocular surface. If the lens does not center properly on the eye or moves excessively with blinks and causes discomfort, switching to a large-diameter scleral lens may solve the problem.
What is the Treatment for Keratoconus in Weston?
At Weston Contact Lens Institute, our Optometrists recommend scleral contact lenses to resolve this issue. The scleral lens does not touch the compromised cornea; it is fitted in a way to vault the cornea. For that reason, these lenses often are more comfortable for a person with keratoconus. The space between the back of the lens and the front surface of the cornea is filled with a non-preserved sterile saline solution. It maintains a constant reservoir of fluid between the lens and the cornea to ensure that it remains lubricated. More over, this fluid layer also compensates for the surface irregularities, leading to improved vision. This modality can provide the comfort of a soft lens with the optical quality of a gas permeable lens. Also, scleral lenses are designed to fit with little or no lens movement during blinks, making them more stable on the eye, compared with traditional corneal gas permeable lenses. Scleral lens designs currently available are considered the best option to provide health benefits and increased comfort compared to smaller corneal rigid lenses and, in this case, soft lenses.
Corneal Collagen Crosslinking treatment for Keratoconus and Post-Lasik Ectasia
Collagen Crosslinking (CXL) has been shown to be an effective treatment for Keratoconus and Post-Lasik Ectasia.
This minimally invasive in-office (in Weston) procedure is intended to strengthen the cornea by creating strong bonds (or cross-links) between corneal collagen fibers. The goal of the procedure is to prevent further progression of the keratoconus or ectasia. Clinical research has shown that cross-linking not only stops the progression of keratoconus, but it also induces flattening of the cornea and visual improvement Collagen Crosslinking involves the instillation of riboflavin (a B vitamin) drops on the cornea after removing the epithelium. Once saturated with riboflavin, the cornea is irradiated with ultraviolet (UV) A light for about 30 minutes. The patient will likely still need to wear the specialty contact lenses or scleral lenses following the procedure.
AvaGen Genetic Testing for Keratoconus
Our practice is proud to announce that we now offer a revolutionary type of testing for keratoconus: AvaGen Genetic Testing. Not only does AvaGen Genetic Testing serve as an early screening process for keratoconus but it can also alert you to other types of corneal genetic dystrophies.
AvaGen Genetic Testing looks at over 75 genes and 2,000 variants. It is designed to put the risk of keratoconus and other corneal disorders into perspective based on actual data. One of the best parts about this type of testing is that It’s personalized which means that it focuses on your unique genetics.
A simple mouth swab is all that’s needed to start the process. However, the test must be ordered by an eye care professional that can walk you through the process and help fill out the forms that go along with the sample.
Your sample is not only collected and sent off to a lab, but the lab returns a comprehensive report that has multiple points of interest, including the following:
- A full risk assessment for keratoconus since it is the most common corneal disorder.
- Examination of any variant of keratoconus, to provide extra precision in terms of treatment options.
- A full risk assessment for other corneal dystrophies, based on specific genes that are the leading cause for those conditions.
- Deep interpretation of the variant data, and what it means for you as the patient.
The report provides plenty of information for early decision-making and maximum vision health protection.
Keratoconus Patient’s Review from our Weston Practice
“Elise Kramer, OD is an excellent scleral lens expert, who focuses on patients with keratoconus, post-LASIK ectasia, and other cornea conditions, as well as dry eye. I have worked with her for many years, and my patients share their highest praises on her abilities to help them, especially those with more difficult corneal conditions. I give her my highest recommendation!!”
