A Complete Guide to Keratoconus Treatments
Keratoconus is an eye condition in which your cornea thins and bulges outward into a conical shape.
If you have it, you may have blurred vision and sensitivity to light and glare.
A 48-year clinical study of Keratoconus by R.H. Kennedy et al. found a prevalence of less than 55 in 100,000 people.
Slowing the progression of the disease and improving the vision are two approaches to treating Keratoconus.
Read the article to learn about Keratoconus treatments, diagnosis, and prevention.
Keratoconus Treatments
Treatment for Keratoconus depends on its severity, age, and how quickly the condition progresses.
The evaluation of patients above 20 is every six months. While people with higher risk factors, like pregnancy or young age (under 20), are examined every three months.
Severe cases of Keratoconus are usually treated with combination therapy.
As a result, patients with Keratoconus have Astigmatism. But not everyone with Astigmatism suffers from Keratoconus.
Spectacles and contact lenses
In the early stages of Keratoconus, spectacles and contact lenses are recommended.
This is likely a long-term treatment if your cornea becomes stable with time or from cross-linking treatment.
In mild Keratoconus, soft contact lenses are sufficient. But at more advanced stages, rigid gas-permeable contact lenses become necessary.
Collagen Cross-linking (CCL)
In collagen cross-linking, the cornea is saturated with riboflavin eyedrops and treated with Ultraviolet light.
The process helps stiffen the cornea from further change in its shape.
Therapy works by stabilizing the corneal tissues.
Currently, the treatment is recommended for patients with progressive Keratoconus and clear cornea to slow or stop the progression.
After CCL, the likelihood of needing a cornea transplant is decreased.
The downside of the treatment is infectious Keratitis, Edema, and Haze in some patients. It is an irreversible treatment that does not improve your vision.
Intracorneal Ring Segments
Intracorneal Ring Segments (ICRS) are a modern, less invasive surgical option to improve eyesight in patients with Keratoconus.
In the process, Intracorneal ring segments, made with Polymethyl Methacrylate, are implanted into the deep corneal stroma.
It helps flatten the corneal surface by an arc-shortening effect, reducing the refractive error.
The reduction in refractive error depends on the thickness and diameter of the ring segments. This refractive correction improves visual acuity (sharpness).
To treat Astigmatism due to Keratoconus, shorter and thinner rings are used. In contrast, longer and thicker ring segments are used to correct Myopia.
Some complications after the treatment are infection, fluctuating visual outcomes, and Dysphotopsia.
Keratoplasty
Patients may need corneal transplantation if the above less invasive procedures are ineffective.
Penetrating Keratoplasty is a transplant procedure in which a patient’s cornea is replaced with a corneal graft from a donor.
Patients may take several weeks or months for recovery, with visual functions stabilizing a year after transplantation.
Allograft rejection, Iatrogenic Astigmatism, and recurrence of Keratoconus are some of the complications patients may face after the surgery.
Diagnosis of condition
Diagnosing the condition early for better results from treatment is essential.
Here are some of the diagnosis methods used to identify Keratoconus.
Slit-lamp evaluation
Examining the patients at slit-lamp can help reveal several diagnostic features of Keratoconus.
Thinning of central and paracentral parts of the cornea is the characteristic sign.
If a person has Keratoconus, the slit-lamp photograph will show a corneal Fleischer ring composed of iron deposits.
Corneal topography and tomography
Corneal topography and tomography provide information about corneal curvature.
Topographic cornea maps will show signs of irregular Astigmatism, if any.
Astigmatism is an irregularly shaped cornea that keeps light from bending correctly, causing vision problems.
Corneal tomography gives additional parameters about the anterior and posterior corneal surfaces.
In Keratoconus, the posterior corneal structure changes before the anterior surface.
If you have it, corneal tomography may show stromal thinning and elevation changes in the posterior structure.
Thus, you can detect the early stage of Keratoconus using corneal tomography even before the symptoms emerge.
How to prevent
Most cases of Keratoconus are not preventable.
However, you may be able to reduce the chances by following:
- Using sunglasses to protect your eyes from UV light
- Making sure you use contact lenses that fit well
- Avoiding rubbing your eyes
- Getting treatment for any eye discomfort
Takeaway
Keratoconus is not a common condition and affects more people in their twenties.
Being a progressive condition, treating it to prevent permanent vision loss becomes crucial.
In most people, the condition can not be prevented. However, you can take some measures to stop it from getting worse.
Spectacles and contact lenses, collagen cross-linking, Intracorneal Ring Segments, and Keratoplasty are recommended and effective treatments to slow the progression.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can Keratoconus be cured?
No. Currently, no medical treatments or therapies can cure Keratoconus completely. But there are methods such as Collagen Cross-linking to stop the progression and Keratoplasty. They can help improve the vision.
How do you fix Keratoconus naturally?
Today, there is no way to fix Keratoconus naturally with diet or home remedies. However, after you are diagnosed with the condition, you can take some preventive steps to keep your eyes from further damage.
Can I live a normal life with Keratoconus?
Keratoconus does not affect the day-to-day life of most people living with it. There are prescription glasses or contact lenses to correct your eyesight. Some other treatments can help with the advanced stages of Keratoconus. There’s plenty of support and resources to help you with your condition.
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