Contact Lenses Rigid Gas Permeable (RGP) contact lenses are often the treatment of choice for moderate to severe KC. The hard surface of the lenses provide the proper curvature for light to enter the eye and focus on the retina, while the gas permeable nature provide sufficient oxygen for the cornea. Additionally, a number of specialized contact lenses developed specifically for keratoconus are currently on the market including: Rose-K, Synergeyes, and Soft-K. These specialized lenses use computer-modeling to produce a lens in which the inside curvature is specially vaulted to fit over the corneal cone, while still providing an optically efficient curvature on the outside of the lens. The contact lens fitter can then further customize the design of the lens for a particular patient by adjusting size, rim design, prescription, and the degree of curvature.

Scleral Lenses Scleral lenses provide the next level of contact lens options for keratoconus as they are much larger and actually fit over the sclera (white portion) of the eye. The lenses tend to be more comfortable for patients with severe KC or with a sensitivity to smaller RGP lenses.

INTAC Rings

INTACS consist of two small half-rings which are implanted on either side of the cornea. The idea is that the spring action of the implant helps to reshape the cornea to compensate for the bulge in the middle. Since INTACTS are a more invasive approach than contact lenses, they are generally suggested for patients who are no longer able to see well with contact lenses or who are no longer able to tolerate contacts due to discomfort.

Corneal Transplant For patients whose KC has become severe to the point of no longer being able to see well with contacts or inplants, corneal transplantation is generally the ultimate treatment. In a transplant the weakened central portion of the patient's cornea is removed and the donor cornea is stiched into place. Corneal transplants are often the most successful type of transplant surgery. Corneal transplantation is among the most successful of organ transplant surgeries. According to the literature, over 90% of the corneal grafts are successful with some studies reporting 97% to 99% success rates at 5 and 10 years. Transplantation does not provide a complete solution, however, as a significant number of transplant patients will require RGP contacts after surgery. In a small number of cases, keratoconus has been found to occur in the newly transplanted cornea.

Collagen Crosslinking

Corneal collagen cross-linking riboflavin therapy is a relatively new experimental treatment for KC. The process works by strengthening the collagan fibers which provide the structural integrity of the cornea. The treatment consists of applying riboflavin (vitamin B2) eyedrops to the corneas and then exposing them to ultraviolet light to activate the riboflavin, allowing it to bind to the collagen in the cornea. Click on the KC Research section of this website to review some of the clinical research on collagen cross-linking therapy. Although it is a relatively new procedure and still being investigated, the hope is that the process will halt the progression of keratoconus.