DISEASE & MANAGEMENT

Keratoconus is a non-inflammatory progressive eye disease in which the cornea thins, protrudes, and weakens, causing the development of an irregular (cone) shape.  This abnormal curvature distorts the cornea's refractive power, producing moderate to severe irregular astigmatism, reduced vision (nearsightedness) which is often difficult to correct with glasses. Patients with this disease also often experience varying levels of distorted vision and increased light sensitivity and glare. As the disease progresses, the cornea continues to thin and bulge outward, with vision becoming increasingly distorted. In the most severe cases, the cornea may swell and crack, causing scar tissue to develop, and a corneal transplant may be necessary. However, even after a corneal transplant, eyeglasses or specialty contact lenses are still often needed to correct vision.
 

During its earliest stages, eyeglasses and/or soft contact lenses may be prescribed to restore vision. However, as the condition progresses, medically necessary rigid gas permeable, hybrid, piggyback or scleral contact lenses are often required. Proper contact lens fitting is very important to prevent or minimize corneal scarring. In instances when the cornea becomes too thin, or scar tissue develops, surgical interventions, such as intacs (prescribed corneal implants) and/or corneal transplants, are needed.   In the United States, the recently FDA-approved corneal collagen crosslinking treatment for keratoconus has shown to be highly successful at stopping the progression of the disease and, thereby, stopping the need for more advanced surgical interventions.
 

www.nkcf.org (National Keratoconus Foundation)