Keratoconus is an eye condition where the cornea, the clear front part of your eye, becomes thin and bulges outward into a cone shape. This can lead to blurry or distorted vision, sensitivity to light, and difficulty seeing at night. Keratoconus usually starts in the teenage years and can worsen over time, affecting both eyes. It's important to diagnose and manage keratoconus early to prevent vision loss and maintain clear vision.
Book A ConsultationThe exact cause of keratoconus is not known, but it's believed to involve a combination of genetic and environmental factors.
This can include:
Essentially, keratoconus happens when the cornea weakens and can't hold its normal round shape, instead bulging out into a cone shape.
The symptoms of keratoconus can vary depending on the stage of the condition, but they typically include:
Blurriness that can't be corrected with glasses, especially in low light conditions.
Also known as photophobia, where bright lights can be uncomfortable or painful.
Poor night vision or seeing halos around lights.
Needing new prescriptions often as the cornea changes shape.
Feeling of tired or strained eyes, along with itching or burning sensations.
Seeing double or multiple images of the same object.
Some patients feel like there is something in their eye or a general discomfort.
Dr. Motwani, a keratoconus specialist, has pioneered the CREATE+CXL Protocol, which dramatically increases removal of corneal irregularity with laser reconstruction that includes epithelial compensation of higher order aberrations followed by corneal cross linking. This can lead to a dramatically normalized corneal shape with significant vision improvement, reduction of visual abnormalities, and restoration of lost vision as well as prevent the need for keratoconus surgery.
Corneal crosslinking is a minimally invasive procedure that strengthens the cornea, halting the progression of keratoconus. By using UV light and a special riboflavin solution, this treatment can help stabilize the cornea, potentially reducing the need for more invasive interventions like corneal transplants.
The Athens Protocol is a combined procedure for treating keratoconus that involves performing corneal collagen crosslinking (CXL) followed by topography-guided photorefractive keratectomy (PRK) or laser epithelial keratomileusis (LASEK). This protocol aims to stabilize the cornea and improve its shape, potentially reducing the need for corneal transplants in some cases.
Corneal transplant, also known as keratoplasty, is a surgical procedure performed by a keratoconus doctors to replace a damaged or diseased cornea with a healthy donor cornea. This procedure is typically reserved for severe cases of keratoconus where other treatments, such as crosslinking or contact lenses, are no longer effective. Corneal transplants can restore vision and improve quality of life for patients with advanced keratoconus.
Keratoconus is typically diagnosed through a comprehensive eye exam that includes corneal mapping and measurement of corneal thickness.
The recovery process after keratoconus treatments, such as corneal crosslinking or corneal transplant surgery, can vary depending on the procedure and the individual. In general, after corneal crosslinking, you may experience some discomfort, light sensitivity, and blurry vision for a few days to a week. It's important to avoid rubbing your eyes and follow your doctor's instructions for using eye drops. After corneal transplant surgery, the recovery process is longer and may involve several weeks of healing time. You will need to attend follow-up appointments with your doctor to monitor your progress and ensure proper healing.
Dr. Motwani is the leading keratoconus specialist. Book a free consultation with him to get started on your keratoconus treatments.
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