Custom-designed gas-permeable, hybrid, or scleral lenses vault over the irregular cornea to provide a smooth, stable refractive surface. By effectively replacing the cornea’s uneven front with a perfectly smooth optical surface, these lenses can significantly enhance visual clarity and reduce distortions. Scleral and other specialty lenses also tend to be more comfortable for keratoconus patients than standard contacts, improving both vision and quality of life.
A minimally invasive procedure that uses vitamin B2 (riboflavin) eye drops combined with controlled ultraviolet light to strengthen the cornea’s collagen fibers. This extra “cross-linking” between fibers makes the cornea more rigid and halts further bulging. Cross-linking is the first treatment proven to slow or stop keratoconus from getting worse, preserving your natural cornea and preventing the need for more invasive surgery. The outpatient procedure takes about an hour, and by stopping keratoconus progression in its tracks, it protects your vision for the long term.
Protect Your Vision With CXL
Tiny clear crescent-shaped implants inserted into the mid-layer of the cornea to flatten its cone shape and reduce irregular astigmatism. Intacs reshape the cornea from within without removing any tissue, adding support to the weakened areas. Patients often experience improved vision or easier contact lens fitting after Intacs. The implants are removable and can delay or even avoid the need for a corneal transplant in many cases. Intacs surgery is quick (about 15 minutes per eye) and minimally invasive, with a relatively fast recovery.
A specialized laser treatment that smooths and reshapes the cornea’s front surface using detailed corneal topography maps. PRK is a customized form of laser vision correction specifically tailored for irregular corneas, such as those affected by keratoconus. Removing microscopic amounts of tissue in precisely mapped areas can reduce distortions and improve vision beyond what glasses or contacts alone can achieve. This treatment is typically performed in conjunction with corneal cross-linking (either sequentially or concurrently) once the cornea has stabilized, to maximize visual clarity. It’s especially helpful for mild to moderate keratoconus, providing a smoother corneal shape and better vision with glasses or contacts after treatment.
In advanced keratoconus where corneal scarring or extreme thinning has severely impaired vision, replacing the damaged cornea with a healthy donor cornea may be recommended. Our surgeons perform both partial-thickness transplants (DALK), which replace only the front layers of the cornea and are often used for keratoconus, and full-thickness transplants (penetrating keratoplasty) when necessary. By transplanting clear corneal tissue, we can restore a smooth, dome-shaped cornea and significantly improve vision. Recovery from corneal transplant takes longer than other treatments (several months to a year for full visual stabilization), and you may still need glasses or specialty contacts for the best vision after healing. However, a transplant can successfully rehabilitate vision in cases where other measures are no longer effective, and our team will support you through the entire recovery process.
