Can Keratoconus Be Cured?

You start to develop blurred vision. Things that were once clear now look distorted. So you go to get your eyes tested, and your optician diagnoses you with keratoconus.

The first thing you will likely want to know is what that actually is, then follow it up with, ” Can keratoconus be cured?

The latter is probably the one you are desperate to know the answer to, which in effect is a no, but there are highly effective ways to treat keratoconus.

The most important thing is early diagnosis, which will make it possible to manage symptoms and protect your long-term eye health.

Click here or call 0808 304 5174 today to take the first step towards maintaining a normal life with LaserVision.

What Is Keratoconus?

Keratoconus is a condition where the cornea gradually thins and changes shape. Instead of being round, it develops a cone shape, leading to irregular astigmatism.

With the potential to affect both eyes, it can often start to develop during the late teen years or early adulthood.  Factors such as family history and frequent eye rubbing may increase the risk or exacerbate it if the symptoms are already present.

Early Signs and Diagnosis

At Laser Vision, we cannot stress the importance of early detection enough. This gives us the best chance to improve your eyesight and give you the knowledge and tools to manage your condition.

Early symptoms of keratoconus may include:

• Increasingly poor vision
• Sensitivity to light
• Frequent changes in prescription

A specialist will likely need to assess your eyes using tools like corneal topography, wavefront analysis, and a slit lamp examination to determine your condition.

Be aware that at Laser Vision, we like to review your medical and family history, which also helps confirm the diagnosis. As with any medical condition, early detection allows for better visual outcomes and helps prevent further damage.

Can Keratoconus Be Cured?

While keratoconus cannot be fully reversed, modern treatment options can slow or stop progression and improve visual acuity.

The main goal is to:

• Stop keratoconus from worsening
• Improve corrected vision
• Protect the corneal tissue

So, to reiterate, keratoconus treatment options are designed to manage the symptoms and prevent your eyes from rapidly worsening, as it cannot be cured.

Treatment Options for Keratoconus

Keratoconus patients can rest assured that there are several ways to treat keratoconus; it’s a matter of choosing the right one or combination for you.

Here’s a list of keratoconus treatment options available to patients.

Glasses and Contact Lenses

Your first line of defence against worsening eyesight due to keratoconus is wearing glasses or contact lenses. In the early stages, this can drastically help improve clear vision.

You can consider:

• Standard soft contact lenses
• Hard contact lenses for better shape control
• Scleral lenses for advanced cases
• Piggyback lenses for added comfort

Which of these would be best for you can be decided when you speak to your optician. Any one of these options will have a positive impact on your circumstances.

Corneal Cross Linking

Corneal cross-linking is considered the gold standard treatment to prevent keratoconus progression.

The idea behind this exceptional treatment option is to strengthen collagen fibres using riboflavin solution and ultraviolet light.

It helps stop further thinning and stabilise the corneal shape, which in effect is the best way to prevent eyesight from worsening.

Surgical Options

For more advanced keratoconus, surgery may be required. This is a treatment option that has to be taken when the shape of the cornea is leading to major vision issues.

Surgeries that can help are:

• Ring segments to improve the cornea’s shape
• Deep anterior lamellar keratoplasty
• Penetrating keratoplasty or full cornea transplant using a donor cornea

These procedures can significantly improve vision and restore function when other treatments are not enough. It needs to be fully discussed before being performed, though.

Living With Keratoconus

Although the initial diagnosis may scare you, keratoconus can be managed with the right care. Being able to maintain a decent level of vision is highly likely with the help of our specialist at Laser Vision.

With the modern treatment options available, it has never been easier to help patients with keratoconus.

Book a Consultation With a Keratoconus Specialist

So, please do not panic if you are experiencing blurred vision or seeing distorted views, because we are here to help at Laser Vision.

All you need to do is click here or call 0808 304 5174 today to speak to our experts at Laser Vision and visit one of our state-of-the-art clinics.