Keratoconus in Lawrence KS

Keratoconus in Lawrence KS is a non-inflammatory dystrophy of the cornea(the clear, curved front surface of the eye mainly responsible for focusing light) in which the connections of the collagen fibers that make up the cornea are weakened, resulting in corneal thinning, steepening in curvature, and distortion of normal shape. Vision becomes blurry, and, due to the irregular shape of the cornea, glasses don’t give perfect vision. Most people with keratoconus eventually need to wear rigid contact lenses to get the best vision.

Keratoconus tends to show up in the late teens or early twenties. It sometimes is hereditary but not always. In some cases it seems to be related to significant eye rubbing due to itchy eyes from allergic conditions. Although rigid contact lenses will usually provide good vision, sometimes the keratoconus continues to progress over the years to the point where the cornea is so distorted in shape that it is difficult to get a contact lens to fit properly. In some cases this leads to a corneal transplant procedure, where a cornea “button” from a donor eye replaces the distorted central cornea of the keratoconic eye. In recent years, though, a new treatment has been developed which can slow or halt the progression of keratoconus. Known as “corneal crosslinking”, it involves treating the cornea with riboflavin and ultraviolet light, which results in a stronger bond between the corneal collagen fibers. This strengthens the cornea and makes it more resistant to further thinning and distortion.

How is Keratonconus is Lawrence KS Diagnosed?

Keratoconus is not obvious in its early stages, but is often suspected when myopia and astigmatism are increasing rapidly in the teens and twenties, and when vision can’t be corrected to a sharp 20/20. When keratoconus is suspected, we will use an instrument called a corneal topographer to carefully measure the curvature and shape of the cornea. By diagnosing keratoconus in its early stages, the crosslinking procedure can be performed before the cornea becomes extremely distorted.

When contact lenses are needed for getting good vision with keratoconus, we are experienced in fitting the types of special lenses needed. In addition to traditional rigid corneal lenses, which are smaller than the overall size of the cornea, we also can fit scleral lenses, which are large rigid lenses which completely vault over the cornea and rest on the sclera(the white of the eye). In some cases hybrid lenses, with a rigid center and a soft outer skirt can also work well. Before proceeding with contact lens fitting we will discuss with you the various options, and what we would recommend for your particular situation.