Keratoconus
Video: Keratonconus
Keratoconus is a non-inflammatory disorder of the cornea. In keratoconus the normally spherical cornea progressively thins and weakens resulting in a steep conical protrusion of the cornea. This causes a high degree of nearsightedness (myopia) and an irregular shape to the cornea (irregular astigmatism), both of which contribute to progressively worsening vision as the condition progresses.
There are no known measures that can be taken to prevent keratoconus or halt its progression. One diagnosed inital treatment is the use of special contact lenses to improve vision. When keratoconus progresses, making contact lenses useless, surgical intervention is warranted.
Surgical options include corneal transplantation, INTACS(tm) intrastromal ring implants, deep anterior lamellar keratoplansty (DALK), and riboflavin-collagen cross-linking UV light therapy. If you have been diagnosed with keratoconus a consultation with a cornea specialist may be advisable.
