A look at treatments for your future vision with keratoconus
First of all, keratoconus is not a blinding condition. It is a non-inflammatory eye disease in which the normally rounded cornea thins, leading to the protrusion of a cone-like bulge. As a result of this irregular corneal surface, you’ll experience visual impairment – but not blindness.
The more your cornea bulges forward, the more visual disturbances you’re likely to have. Many people with keratoconus visit our San Leandro, California, eye care center with complaints about:
- Seeing distorted views
- Reduced eyesight
- Blurred distance vision
- Glare
- Problems with night vision
- Light sensitivity
As you probably noticed, blindness isn’t on the above list of common symptoms caused by keratoconus.
Keratoconus Treatments to Improve Vision
A variety of treatments for keratoconus are available, all of which can help restore your functional vision and ability to live normally. Our San Leandro, California, eye doctor will evaluate your condition thoroughly to recommend the best personalized treatment. Options include:
Intacs
Intacs are surgically placed corneal inserts that function to reshape and stabilize the eye surface, giving you clearer vision. The FDA-approved inserts are thin, transparent, and arc-shaped – and they can be an excellent treatment for keratoconus. Recovery is usually fast, with minimal side effects that are temporary.
Contact Lenses
Specialty contact lenses can be an ideal solution to give you comfortable, crisp vision even with keratoconus. Scleral lenses vault over your cornea, resting on the white of your eyes and creating a smooth domed optical surface instead of your bulging cornea. Rigid gas permeable lenses, custom soft contacts, and hybrid contact lenses (which have a hard center and a soft outer ring) may also be a good fit.
Corneal Collagen Cross-Linking (CXL)
This non-surgical, FDA-approved procedure can slow or stop the progression of your corneal bulge. It works by strengthening the bonds between your eye’s collagen fibers.
Conductive Keratoplasty (CK)
This refractive surgery reshapes the cornea; it is approved by the FDA for treating farsightedness in people over age 40, but is also gaining popularity as a treatment for keratoconus, when suitable.
Corneal Transplant
If keratoconus deteriorates to the point that no other treatments can help enhance your vision, our San Leandro, California, eye doctor may recommend a corneal transplant. In all types of corneal transplants, your eye surgeon will make a small incision to remove the unhealthy corneal cells before implanting new tissue. In general, only about 1 in 4 people end up needing a corneal transplant to treat keratoconus.
At Turner Eye Institute, we specialize in treating keratoconus with the most advanced, breakthrough procedures to slow the progression of this corneal disease and help you see as clearly as possible!
At Turner Eye Institute, we put your family's needs first. Talk to us about how we can help you maintain healthy vision. Call us today: 800-339-2733 or book an appointment online to see one of our San Leandro eye doctors.
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