Keratoconus

Keratoconus is a condition that causes the cornea to take on a cone shape, leading to significant vision distortions. At Eye Care & Surgery, our dedicated team of experienced eye care professionals diagnoses and treats keratoconus to help preserve and improve your vision. We offer comprehensive care at three convenient locations: in Washington Heights, Manhattan; near the Grand Concourse in the Bronx, directly across from Yankee Stadium; and in New Rochelle, just minutes from downtown and near New Rochelle High School. Schedule your consultation today by booking online or calling your nearest Eye Care & Surgery office for keratoconus care.

What is keratoconus?

Keratoconus is a condition in which your cornea thins out and grows into a cone shape. Eventually, it causes vision problems, and it can potentially grow serious enough to require a corneal transplant if untreated.

In most cases, keratoconus affects both eyes, but one eye is often worse than the other. Keratoconus starts in adolescence, but it can begin earlier or later in life as well. 

What are the symptoms of keratoconus?

Symptoms might be mild in the beginning, but as the cornea shape grows more distorted, vision problems can progress. Common keratoconus symptoms can include: 

• Blurry vision
• Cloudy vision
• Visual distortions
• Sensitivity to bright light
• Difficulty driving at night
• Frequent eyeglasses or contact lens prescription changes

If you experience any of these symptoms, schedule a checkup at Eye Care & Surgery as soon as possible. Your eye doctor can identify the signs of keratoconus and make a diagnosis so you can start effective treatment immediately.

What is the treatment for keratoconus?

The Eye Care & Surgery team offers a range of solutions for keratoconus in both children and adults. 

In the earlier stages of keratoconus, properly-fitted eyeglasses or contact lenses are often all you need. After a couple of years of consistent eyeglasses or contacts wear, your cornea may stabilize. If that's the case, you may not need further treatment. 

Rigid gas-permeable scleral contact lenses are often a common treatment for mild-to-moderate keratoconus. These lenses are larger than ordinary contacts, which means they vault over the cone part of your cornea without getting dislodged. The rigid structure of these lenses helps gently flatten the cornea back into a normal shape over time. 

For severe keratoconus, collagen cross-linking may be a good solution. In this treatment, your Eye Care & Surgery eye doctor uses a combination of liquid riboflavin and measured ultraviolet light to prompt the growth of new collagen fibers in your cornea. The new collagen fibers reinforce and stabilize your cornea to help it return to a normal shape.

If your keratoconus doesn’t respond to other treatments, and you have corneal scarring or severe corneal thinning, you might need a corneal insert to reshape your cornea and improve vision. 

A corneal insert can prevent or at least delay the need for a cornea transplant. For the worst corneal scarring and thinning, you may need a cornea transplant. 

The Eye Care & Surgery team diagnoses and treats keratoconus with compassion and expertise. Book your appointment online or by phone today. 

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