How Much Does Keratoconus Treatment Cost?

Keratoconus Eye Care Is Expensive

Keratoconus management is expensive. Studies have shown that the accumulated cost over the lifetime of a patient can exceed $25,000. For most people, this exorbitant expenditure highlights the importance of having good medical coverage. As the condition deteriorates and standard aids to improve vision become inadequate, there may be a need for more expensive specialty contact lenses and costly medical procedures. 

The reticence of some insurance plans to cover certain costs can be frustrating. Sometimes, your plan will agree to pay for a procedure if previous interventions were unsuccessful. Speak with your optometrist to construct the best treatment plan for your needs. While insurance plans may not cover everything, many plans will cover the costs (partially or full) for medical related eye care. 

The following section will explore approximate costs of common treatments in the U.S., ranging from different types of contact lenses, to outpatient procedures such as cross-linking, and proper surgeries such as corneal transplants.

• Contact Lenses: The cost should take into account the expense of increasingly more expensive lenses as vision worsens and custom fittings, which become more sophisticated with specialty lenses. Common lenses include:
  • Soft contacts- A comfortable option usually only suitable for moderate symptoms. Costs range from $50-100 per box of disposables.
  • Rigid gas-permeable contacts- Rigid lenses may become necessary as the condition advances. They provide increased durability and gas permeability and can cost from just under $100 to several hundred dollars per set of lens.
  • Hybrid- A type of combination lens blending the comfort of a soft lens with gas permeability.
  • Piggy-back- A piggyback method where one type of lens “rides” on top of the other contact to improve vision.
  • Scleral lenses- Can cost approximately $2000-4000. These speciality lenses sit on the sclera rather than the scarred tissue. Often regarded as the most comfortable and effective lenses for people with keratoconus.