Keratoconus is an eye condition that affects the shape and structure of the cornea, the clear front part of the eye. The normal shape of the cornea is curved and dome-shaped, but if you have keratoconus, the size of the cornea becomes irregular, i.e., thin or bulging outward into a cone-like shape.
This abnormal shape and thinning of the cornea cause blurred or distorted vision; this eye condition is keratoconus. Keratoconus normally begins in the late teens or early 20s and is progressive; it can affect one or both eyes.
Finding an effective solution to restore clear vision is important for individuals living with keratoconus. The recent advancements in scleral lens technology have brought renewed hope and improved quality of life for keratoconus patients. In this blog, we talk about abnormal shaping, and thinning of the cornea, which cause vision issues, and effective treatment options for your condition.
A Fleischer ring is a yellowish or brownish ring that appears on the outer edge of the cornea and is seen in some individuals living with keratoconus. It is ideally seen, when hemosiderin, a form of iron storage protein, is deposited in the epithelial cells of the cornea.
Several surgical and non-surgical Keratoconus treatment options are available today that can be ideal for your case since the cornea bulges outward like a cone, and light rays hitting the retina cannot focus back at the back of your eye indicating blurry vision.
Imagine how severe the condition can get if left untreated. From blurring of vision to halos around bright light, the increased sensitivity can indicate the risk of vision loss. That is why you need to consult a keratoconus specialist near you immediately to monitor your case and prevent it from progressing.
There is no exact cure for keratoconus, but certain treatment options can help improve your vision and slow the progression of the symptoms.
In the early stages of keratoconus, the following treatments can be effective in correcting the vision of your eyes:
Eyeglasses may be sufficient in the mild form of keratoconus. The irregular corneal shape degrades image quality, so patients take visual acuity tests at regular intervals.
Soft contact lenses can be a more comfortable option for vision correction than eyeglasses for those living with early keratoconus. However, one can also use other lenses, like rigid gas permeable (RGP) contact lenses, piggyback lenses, and hybrid lenses, to ensure good central vision.
Can you get LASIK with keratoconus? The answer still is that LASIK is not the ideal surgical procedure to treat keratoconus. Let’s learn about the advanced-stage treatment options and the best medical device for keratoconus.
Scleral lenses, also known as ScCLs, are specialized contact lenses that vault over the entire corneal surface and rest on the sclera, the white part of the eye. Unlike traditional contact lenses that sit directly on the cornea, scleral lenses create a tear-filled vault that helps to neutralize irregularities caused by keratoconus, providing a smoother optical surface for improved vision.
One of the most significant advancements in scleral lens technology has been the development of high-oxygen permeable materials, such as fluorosilicone acrylate. This has reduced the risk of complications like corneal edema and ensured greater comfort during extended wear of scleral lenses for those living with keratoconus.
Keratoconus scleral lenses are highly effective with their large-diameter lenses that rest over the sclera, unlike conventional lenses that rest on the cornea. There is a space created between the cornea and the lens when you wear scleral contact lenses.
These large-diameter contact lenses rest on the white part of your eye (sclera) and vault over the cornea. They are a good option for people with advanced keratoconus who cannot tolerate RGP lenses.
Rigid gas permeable (RGP) contact lenses are hard contact lenses for keratoconus, that pose rigid forms over the irregular corneal surface of the eyes. RGP lenses provide sharp and clear vision, and these are highly breathable, ensuring optimal eye health in an individual.
A thin layer of tear between the RGP lens and cornea provides a smooth refractive surface, which is how these lenses provide superior vision correction. Once adjusted, the RGP lens is comfortable for long-term wear. There is a less likely chance that the RGP lenses irritate the cornea.
These are tiny, arc-shaped implants that are inserted into the cornea to help flatten it. ICRS may be combined with other treatments, such as RGP lenses.
In severe cases of keratoconus, a corneal transplant may be necessary. The diseased cornea is removed and replaced with a healthy donor cornea. Unlike this, it implants to reshape the cornea, ICRS aims to reduce the irregular astigmatism and visual distortions associated with keratoconus.
The effectiveness of ICRS depends on several factors, including the implant’s thickness, diameter, and precise placement within the cornea. ICRS has emerged as a valuable treatment modality where, intacs, a pair of tiny clear plastic impacts are used for your vision correction.
Corneal collagen Cross-Linking (CXL) is a minimally invasive procedure used to slow down the progression of keratoconus. a condition that weakens and thins the cornea, the clear dome at the front of your eye.
An eye drop solution containing riboflavin (vitamin B2) is applied to the cornea. Ultraviolet light is applied to the cornea after riboflavin application. The UV light activates riboflavin, which then triggers the formation of new cross-links between collagen fibers.
A riboflavin solution is applied to the cornea, followed by ultraviolet light treatment in CXL. The ultraviolet light activates riboflavin, which strengthens the collagen fibers in the cornea.
Keratoconus topography is a crucial diagnostic tool that involves the use of specialized instruments that create detailed maps of the corneal surface. Keratoconus topography is a non-invasive imaging technique that gives clues about the eye disorder with the correct assessment of the cornea.
Corneal topography helps to detect keratoconus before even the symptoms arise. It helps to evaluate if there are any signs of rapid progression and track changes in the corneal surface. Besides, it helps in attaining the inferior and superior halves of the cornea and the mean toric keratometry (MTK) index to understand the degree of corneal astigmatism, if any.
Keratoconus topography helps eye care professionals optimize your case, with potential signs of visual improvement and customized treatment plans, like the placement of ICRS or the application of CXL. The unique pattern of corneal irregularities can be monitored with further corneal response and management strategies, to preserve vision loss from keratoconus.
Keratoconus requires diligent self-care to manage its symptoms. By incorporating the right lifestyle habits and following expert recommendations, individuals living with keratoconus can protect their vision. Here are some comprehensive self-care tips that can comfort one’s eyes:
Forme fruste keratoconus is an eye condition when there is no apparent sign of keratoconus in one eye, but they have diagnosed it in the other eye. A standard slit-lamp examination and corneal topography help one learn about the condition.
Besides corneal topography, corneal hysteresis (CH) and a corneal resistance factor (CRF) also help understand the cornea’s stiffness, elasticity, and deformation. In these tests, the biochemical properties of the cornea are measured.
The results show that the forme fruste keratoconus eye has lower CH and CRF values compared to a normal eye. Also, those with forme fruste keratoconus have rather weak and less stiff corneas.
Patients with a family history of keratoconus or with certain systemic disorders, such as Down syndrome, are at a higher risk of developing keratoconus. Chronic eye inflammation may also be a risk factor for developing keratoconus.
If you get keratoconus at an early age, surgical intervention can prevent disease progression, so get access from doctors, on the urgency of any sort of destruction of corneal tissue. For keratoconus,
American basketball point guard Steph Curry has Keratoconus and it is likely to be a genetic disease. Under the survey, the familial occurrence of keratoconus in his brother, Seth Curry, who also plays in the NBA, gives hints of a genetic link in their cases.
Keratoconus is certainly not a disability, as it can be treated. In many cases, people only have a mild form of keratoconus and can attain good vision with corrective lenses like eyeglasses or soft contact lenses.
Acute hydrops is a serious complication that can be associated with individuals having keratoconus. This condition indicates a sudden buildup of fluid within the cornea, in the clear front part of the eye.
Acute hydrops occur when a tear develops in Descemet’s membrane of the cornea. This tear might move from the inner eye to leak into the corneal stroma (middle layer), causing bulgy eyes. It can have a link to seasonal allergies, but the fact that it indicates advanced keratoconus cannot be denied. So, taking a comprehensive eye exam, including a slit-lamp examination, helps you track the eye disease.
Keratoconus is a relatively rare condition, you can say that, but advancement in diagnostic tools signifies that most cases of keratoconus are still to be discovered. Earlier studies suggested a prevalence of around 1 in 2,000 individuals.
However, modern corneal topography types and imaging techniques have detected early and mild cases. It now proposes the possibility of keratoconus in 1 in 400 people. The good news is that the ongoing K-MAP study is working to study the true global prevalence of keratoconus, its causes, and risk factors.
Nepal offers relatively affordable options compared to many other countries. The cost of keratoconus surgeries can vary depending on the procedure, facility, and surgeon’s expertise.
For instance, CXL may cost between NPR 50,000 and NPR 100,000 (approximately USD 400 to 800) per eye, while ICRS can range from NPR 100,000 to NPR 200,000 (approximately USD 800 to 1,600) per eye.
To date, Nepal has made significant advancements in corneal care, with experienced ophthalmologists and well-equipped eye hospitals. They provide a range of surgical and non-surgical treatments for keratoconus and other corneal conditions.
Around 300 corneal transplant surgeries are performed annually in Nepal, and that is a wonderful sign that significant keratoconus conditions are treated along with other conditions like corneal scarring, infections, injuries, and endothelial disorders.
Nepal has made significant progress in eye surgery, including advanced corneal surgeries and treatments for keratoconus. It is a relatively rare condition, but the availability of advanced corneal topography and imaging techniques has now monitored the surgical landscape in Nepal.
Corneal collagen cross-linking (CXL) is getting quite popular in Nepal to slow down the progression of keratoconus and stabilize the cornea. In the advanced cases of keratoconus in Nepal, the preferred surgical treatment is ICRS, where small and semicircular rings are implanted into the cornea to remove the risk of distortions.
When other treatments fail to cure, a corneal transplant (keratoplasty) might be recommended for your case. Remarkably, Nepal has top surgeons performing various types of keratoplasty, including penetrating keratoplasty (PK), deep anterior lamellar keratoplasty (DALK), and Descemet’s stripping automated endothelial keratoplasty (DSAEK). Get a check-up today to prevent loss of vision.
Yes, we provide emergency eye care for conditions like eye injuries, sudden vision loss, and infections. If you experience any urgent eye problems, please contact us immediately, and our team will assist you in getting the care you need.
Signs to watch for include blurry vision, floaters, sudden loss of vision, eye pain, redness, or sensitivity to light. If you experience any of these symptoms, it’s important to schedule an eye exam at Vision Concern Eye Clinic as soon as possible for early diagnosis and treatment.
If you’re experiencing blurred vision, headaches, or eye strain, it may be a sign that you need glasses or contact lenses. Our eye exams will help determine whether you need corrective lenses. We’ll also discuss your options based on your lifestyle and preferences, including glasses, contacts, or even refractive surgery like LASIK.
