Treatment for Keratoconus


A number of treatment methods are available. The one chosen by your ophthalmologist will be determined by the severity of the change in your cornea. Some of these treatments do not necessarily stop the progression of the corneal changes but can help improve your vision.

Contact Lenses for Keratoconus

Corrective Lenses are one of the first choices eye doctors will consider, particularly if your eye condition is not very severe. Contact lenses or eye glasses can be used for this purpose. Be aware that these will not alter the condition so your prescription is probably going to be changed very frequently so you’ll need to keep six month eye exams regular.

If you decide to use contact lenses you may be advised to opt for hard contact lenses. Research suggests they these may be able to slow the changes. Make sure you choose high quality lenses, because some evidence suggests poorly fitting hard lenses may lead to a worsening of the problem. Even if they are uncomfortable at first, most people do get used to wearing hard contact lenses.

For people who do not find hard contact lenses bearable, you can wear them on top of soft lenses. Try wearing the hard lenses alone by themselves first before opting for this option.  Other contact lenses such as hybrid, customized and scleral contact lenses, can also be used as alternatives to hard lenses.

Surgery for Keratoconus

Surgery is often required in advanced cases of keratoconus. One of these options is Intrastromal Corneal Ring Segments (ICRS), which involves placing synthetic arcs into the eye for the purpose of flattening the cornea. The procedure is done with only a local anesthetic to numb your eye. When corneal collagen cross-linking is used for keratoconus, it is also possible to re-shape the cornea prior to this operation thereby helping keratoconus sufferers regain some acuity of vision and make contact lens wear more comfortable. It may even be possible to wear soft contact lenses and glasses, again.

A second surgery option is a corneal implant, also known as a keratoplasty. This is often considered the last resort procedure.

You can discuss the best treatment for Keratoconus with your eye doctor but knowing your options will help you better evaluate them so you can improve your vision.

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