Keratoconus Management is important to monitor for any signs of progression of the cornea. New technology can now stop the progression of KC.
Keratoconus Management
Keratoconus management is easy as long as you are working with a good eye care doctor.
It is important to note that doctors strongly advise patients experiencing any level of keratoconus to avoid rubbing their eyes. Excessive eye rubbing will not only cause keratoconus but it will worsen the existing condition and could progress it into a deeper stage. Resisting eye rubbing is number one to managing keratoconus.
If the initial investigation indicates early stages of keratoconus, Dr. Azman’s team of optometrists and ophthalmologists at Global Complex Eye Care take further steps to discuss the preliminary diagnosis with the patient. Other underlying issues may sometimes masquerade, or appear as keratoconus. Dr Azman and his staff take in-depth looks at the cornea utilizing waterfront corneal topography, aberrometry, and other instrumentation to accurately diagnoses keratoconus. In some cases, treating the underlying issue can resolve the visual conditions that was appearing as keratoconus. Each patient’s case is different, and depending on the severity, there are a variety of treatments for keratoconus. Treatment options include, but are not limited to glasses, as well as other combinations of unique keratoconus contact lenses.
Keratoconus lenses can come in the soft form or they can come in harder lenses that are known as gas permeable lenses. Gas permeable lenses are designed to correct the vision, be worn comfortably and allow the transmission of oxygen, unlike regular hard lenses. Hybrid lenses, a combination of soft and hard, are also an option for Global Complex Eye Care patients.
Glasses and contact lenses are appropriate management practices for early-stage keratoconus. There are no operations, prescription pills or eye drops that are needed at this level.
The intermediate stage of keratoconus can be identified by either a corneal topography test or a slit-lamp biomicroscopy. Patients may still be able to manage the condition with eyeglasses or contact lenses at this stage. If it becomes apparent these are no longer suitable, intacts may be considered.
Intacts are prescription inserts that are effective remedies for vision damage and abnormal corneas. The micro-thin implants are inserted, by our ophthalmologist, under the surface of the eye and reshape the curve of the cornea that is causing the vision impairment and discomfort. It has proven to be a very successful treatment for patients in the intermediate stage of keratoconus. With inserts, patients are able to see, drive and live life as they did before the condition progressed into the intermediate stage.
A newer procedure for patients in the eye care field is corneal collagen cross-linking. This medical procedure is performed by our ophthalmologist. The process involves using riboflavin drops in the eye and essentially shining an ultraviolet light on the cornea for up to thirty minutes. The Food and Drug Administration has only recently approved this operation.
Patients who have progressed into the advanced stage of keratoconus will have consultations with their eye care practitioner on the proper course of action. In some cases, eye care practitioners are able to conduct corneal collagen cross-linking or use intacts to treat the condition at that stage. If the condition is beyond those treatments, a corneal transplant would then be considered.
Global Complex Eye Care has been helping patients manage keratoconus for over 30 years. It is our goal to take the burden off of our patients and find the solution that lets them continue with their everyday life.