Can I Have LASIK If I Have Keratoconus?

What Options Are Available For Keratoconus?

Surgical interventions vary depending on the severity. Typically, early-onset complications can be treated with standard contact lenses and glasses. As the condition worsens, more advanced interventions may be considered. 

Often the types of contact lenses that will be suitable changes as the condition advances. While soft-lenses may be suitable initially, as the cornea degenerates, gas permeable types and scleral lenses may become necessary. 

Scleral contact lenses are considered the best gas permeable options today for keratoconus patients. For most patients they offer superior comfort and effectiveness. They are uniquely designed to rest on the sclera of the eye rather than the cornea.

In instances where the disorder has advanced, certain procedures may no longer be viable options. One example of this is collagen cross-linking, a surgical procedure which prevents the cornea from changing shape. However, if the corneal alteration has advanced to a certain point, the procedure may no longer be effective. This is why it is critical to schedule routine ocular exams.  An optometrist can detect the early onset of ocular disorders and initiate treatment. Common interventions include:

• Cross-linking procedure:  A surgical procedure where the eye is treated with riboflavin drops and ultraviolet light, in order to strengthen the eye’s collagen fibers.
• Corneal transplant: In this surgery, diseased corneal tissue is replaced with a donor’s healthy tissue. Sometimes the scarring following surgery necessitates the use of scleral contact lenses.
• INTACS: In this procedure, inserts are placed in the eye to flatten the cornea.  Often contact lenses are still required post surgery to correct vision.