Treatment for Keratoconus

Keratoconus is an eye disorder where your cornea thins slowly over time. The cornea also bulges out to form a cone-like shape. It is an uncommon condition. It causes a major loss in vision and sensitivity to glare and light. Keratoconus happens more often in young adults in their teens and 20s.

Types of treatment

Treatment options vary depending on how severe the condition is. They may also vary depending on what type of keratoconus you have.

Early on, you may only need to wear glasses to correct your vision. If glasses don’t correct your vision, you may be given special contact lenses. These contact lenses must be carefully fitted to your cornea.

Many people with keratoconus will not need any other treatment. But if your cornea becomes too scarred or you are not able to wear contact lenses, you may need surgery. There are several procedures that may be done:

• Corneal collagen cross-linking. This procedure uses special eye drops (riboflavin 5-phosphate solution) to soak the cornea. Ultraviolet (UV) light is then shined on the cornea to harden it and prevent its shape from continuing to change.

• Corneal transplant. This surgery may be done if symptoms are severe. It removes part or all of the cornea. It’s replaced with healthy cornea tissue from a cadaver donor.

• Corneal ring implants. These are artificial rings placed inside your cornea. They help flatten the cornea to improve vision.

• Artificial lenses. These are placed inside your eye. They fix refractive problems from keratoconus.

Each of these procedures has its own risks and benefits. Ask your healthcare provider about what treatment is best for you.

Possible complications of keratoconus

Complications can occur if the condition of the cornea gets worse over time. Problems can also occur from the prolonged use of contact lenses.

In rare cases, severe keratoconus can cause a complication called corneal hydrops. This happens when part of your cornea breaks. This causes the fluid inside your eye to flow into your cornea. This can cause severe pain and swelling. It may also cause sudden eyesight loss. You may need to wear special contact lenses or use special eye drops if you have corneal hydrops. Corneal hydrops often goes away in several weeks.

Preventing keratoconus

Most cases of keratoconus can't be prevented. But you may be able to reduce your chance of getting keratoconus by:

• Making sure your contact lenses fit well

• Getting evaluated for any kind of eye discomfort or vision change

• Not rubbing your eyes

When to call the healthcare provider

Call your healthcare provider right away if you have any of these:

• Sudden pain in your eye

• Sudden eyesight loss