Keratoconus, meaning "cone shaped," describes a condition in which the cornea (the clear front window of the eye) becomes thin and protrudes. This abnormal shape can cause serious distortion of visual images.
The cause of keratoconus is unknown. It usually appears in a patient during their late teens or early twenties. The disease slowly progresses for 10 to 20 years as the cornea steepens and scars. Although both eyes may be affected, one eye is usually worse than the other.
Treatment modalities
- Rigid gas permeable contact lenses including Rose-K lenses.
- Intracorneal ring segments (INTACS) with Intralase
Upcoming treatment modalities
- Corneal Collagen crosslinking with Riboflavin (C3-R) (a new treatment for keratoconus)
- Traditional and Intralase enabled Keratoplasty.