Keratoconus

Expert Care with Dr. Kumar Patel

Dr. Kumar Patel provides top-tier Keratoconus treatment in Flower Mound. He thoroughly educates patients about their eye conditions and presents the most up-to-date treatment options available. As a Board Certified Optometrist, he specializes in custom specialty contact lenses that are used to manage various eye conditions including Keratoconus, Pellucid Marginal Degeneration, Post RK, and Severe Dry Eyes. Let’s dive into what Keratoconus actually is. Learn more about our services.

What is Keratoconus?

Keratoconus is a slow but progressive eye condition. The cornea, which is a clear tissue that is in front of the iris, continues to thin throughout time into a cone shape. This distorts vision really bad, often uncorrectable by glasses. For more details about this condition, visit the American Academy of Ophthalmology.

Causes of Keratoconus

Keratoconus has no clear cause. However, possible factors include:

• Genetics
• Eye-rubbing from allergies
• Collagen insufficiency
• Excessive UV exposure

Keratoconus Symptoms

Keratoconus can start at any age, but often starts in teens or early 20s. The cornea changes slowly, usually affecting both eyes. Symptoms include blurry vision, glare at night, and frequent prescription changes. Therefore, early detection is key and treatment with a scleral fitting will ensure optical clarity.

Diagnosing Keratoconus

Optometrists diagnose Keratoconus using corneal topography. This instrument can detect the smallest corneal change and record it for future comparisons. At PersonalEyes, our corneal topographer has a built in Keratoconus Screening tool which helps make our diagnosis more reliable. Viewing the example below, the left scan shows steepening on the lower 1/3rd of the cornea (hallmark sign of Keratoconus). On the right scan, you can see the central corneal thinner than the peripheral corneal (low 400 microns vs mid-500 microns).Explore our technology.

Keratoconus Treatment Options (i.e. Scleral)

Early Keratoconus responds to glasses or soft lenses quite well. For moderate to advanced cases, we offer Rigid Gas Permeable, Scleral, or Hybrid lenses, which are now considered gold standard of care. In severe cases, a corneal transplant may be necessary. Learn more at the National Keratoconus Foundation.

Corneal Cross-Linking

For early Keratoconus with progression, Corneal Cross-Linking strengthens the cornea. Approved in 2016, it uses riboflavin drops and UV light to prevent bulging. This method is highly effective.