Different conditions can affect the eyes, with some being more common than others. An eye condition you may not have heard of before is keratoconus. This condition affects the quality of vision and requires specialist treatment. 

What is Keratoconus?

Keratoconus is believed to affect about 2,000 people in the United States. In most instances, the condition starts during puberty and continues to progress into mid-adulthood, by which point it usually stops. 


Keratoconus occurs when the tiny crisscrossed protein fibers in your eye that help hold your cornea in place start to weaken. When this happens, they are less effective, and the cornea can begin to bulge outwards in a cone-type shape. 


The cornea is responsible for refracting light as it enters the eye. Any abnormality can result in it no longer focusing light on the retina at the back of the eye (where it is sent to the brain via the optic nerve to tell us what we can see). Instead, light is incorrectly refracted onto multiple focal points, disrupting patient vision. 

Treatment for Keratoconus

In its earliest stages, keratoconus can often be treated using prescription glasses. These alter the way that light is refracted as it enters the eye so that the patient can see clearly. In some cases, patients prefer contact lenses to correct their vision. 

 

The Role of Scleral Contact Lenses in Treating Keratoconus

Scleral lenses are a type of specialty contact lens and another way of correcting vision for patients with keratoconus, who are often unable to wear regular contact lenses. 


Scleral lenses have a unique design. Instead of making contact with the entire eye surface, they vault over the surface, creating a space between the front eye surface and the back of the contact lens. This gap provides space to accommodate corneal abnormalities, including the bulge that forms in patients with keratoconus. 


Scleral lenses are also larger than regular contact lenses, which makes them easier to handle, remain stable on the surface of the eye and feel comfortable when in place. 


Other types of contact lenses that may be suitable for patients with keratoconus include:
 

• Hard contact lenses
   

• Hybrid lenses (which combined a rigid center with a softer edge/skirt)

Corneal Cross-linking

In advanced cases of keratoconus, patients may undergo a minimally-invasive procedure called corneal cross-linking. This treatment uses a combination of ultraviolet light and eye drops. It strengthens the collagen fibers in the cornea, preventing them from weakening and letting the cornea bulge out of place. 


Corneal cross-linking is very effective and can help patients avoid a corneal transplant. 

 

Corneal Transplant

Patients could be recommended a corneal transplant in the most severe cases of keratoconus or where corneal cross-linking is unsuccessful or not possible. Also known as keratoplasty or a corneal graft, it involves removing and replacing the natural cornea with a donor cornea. It can take up to 18 months to enjoy the final results of a corneal transplant. 


If you want more information about keratoconus and treatment options, visit Mid-Modern Eyecare in Midland, Michigan. Call (989) 486-3025 to schedule an appointment today.