Keratoconus Treatment

What are the symptoms of keratoconus?

Keratoconus leads to increasing astigmatism in the glasses prescription, and the glasses prescription is not stable. Although some people with early keratoconus may be able to wear spectacles or soft contact lenses, when keratoconus becomes more severe, glasses are unable to give sharp vision because of irregular astigmatism. With irregular astigmatism, gas permeable contact lenses give best vision.

What can happen if keratoconus is not treated?

If keratoconus is not treated, as the disease progresses, gas permeable contact lenses are not sufficient to correct visual acuity, or cannot be tolerated due to poor fit as a consequence of the abnormal corneal shape. Intracorneal ring segment implants (e.g. Keraring, Intacs) may be used. Deep lamellar keratoplasty or penetrating keratoplasty may be required for severe progressive keratoconus.

Hydrops is a condition encountered in severe keratoconus, where the thin membrane at the back of the cornea (Descement’s membrane) spontaneously ruptures as the cornea becomes more cone shaped. Vision is compromised initially with hydrops, but over time the vision usually recovers to previous levels. Sometimes vision can recover to a better level following hydrops, due to flattening of the cone shape during healing.

How is keratoconus diagnosed?

Keratoconus is diagnosed by a combination of:

1. An abnormal corneal topography scan such as Pentacam, and
2. Increasing astigmatism in the glasses prescription.

What treatments are available for keratoconus?

Collagen cross-linking has been shown in several randomized trials to halt the progression of keratoconus. Cross-linking is the currently the only treatment available, which halts the progression of keratoconus.

Intracornal ring segments can improve vision in keratoconus. Ring segments can be used in patients who would like a better shape of the cornea, to allow soft contact lens wear or glasses, and avoid having a corneal transplant.

Surface laser reshaping combined with collagen cross-linking treatment shows promise in improving the corneal shape and reducing the irregularity of astigmatism in mild to moderate keratoconus, allowing patients to wear glasses or soft contact lenses and avoid having a corneal transplant.

Corneal transplantation, most commonly deep anterior lamellar keratoplasty, to remove the abnormal thinned cornea, is the final treatment option.