TREATMENT

The majority of patients can be treated, and get almost normal/normal vision with rigid contact lenses. 

  • SPECIALITY SOFT LENSES – in early stages
  • RIGID GAS PERMEABLE KERATOCONIC LENSES – in moderate to advanced stages
  • SCLERAL LENSES – in advanced to severe cases
  • PIGGY-BACK LENSES – specific cases with a soft lens worn under a RGP lens
  • HYBRID LENS – specific cases needing lens with a RGP center and soft edge
  • SURGICAL PROCEDURES (~15-20% of patients need surgery):
  • CORNEAL CROSS-LINKING – to try to retard the progression of the disease
  • INTACS – semi-circular plastic inserts to help reshape the cornea
  • CORNEAL TRANSPLANTS – dependent on availability of donor corneas in South Africa

If the condition advances to the stage where the cornea scars, the patient has to have a corneal transplant

images12
What is keratoconus?
Prevalence
How does it affect the patient?
Causes