Excellence in Keratoconus Care
Keratoconus, conventionally thought to be noninflammatory, is a disease of the cornea in which the cornea assumes a conical shape because of thinning and protrusion. The irregular shape of the cornea is what leads to visual disturbances resulting in mild to marked impairment of visual function.
Keratoconus should be suspected in young individuals that cannot achieve 20/20 or requires multiple changes in spectacles.
Visual correction begins with Spectacles followed by Contact lenses. Contact lenses do not prevent progression of the disease.
Cornea cross linking (CXL) to reduce keratoconus progression works best in young people with mild disease, however individuals with mild to moderate keratoconus may benefit from this procedure to help limit progression.
Intrastromal ring segments (ICR) in patients with adequate corneal thickness are helpful in keratoconus to center the cone and improve contact lens tolerance.
Specialty corneal Rigid Gas Permeable lenses (corneal RGPs) specifically tailored for the individual’s visual needs and comfort tolerance can provide sharp and clear vision. The geometry of the lenses Dr. Altman uses is customized for each individual’s cornea.
Moreover, Dr. Altman uses Scleral Devices, considered the mainstay in the management of mild to advanced cases. Scleral Devices are custom made for each eye for all types of irregular corneas. Unlike corneal RGPs, Scleral Devices are designed to land on the sclera and completely vault over the cornea. The vaulted cornea is filled with a fluid reservoir and is what contributes to dramatically improving comfort of the device while masking irregularities offering improved visual function.
Corneal transplantation is a major surgery performed by a corneal surgeon and is a last resort. It might take up to one year to obtain final vision results from this procedure. The type of keratoplasty surgery depends on individual needs and surgeons’ technique preference.
The combination of CXL, intrastromal ring segments and customized contact lens treatment or scleral devices has been a powerful success for many individuals with this condition.
Call our office today at (615) 535-9787 to schedule your consultation keratoconus treatment.