Keratoconus
Keratoconus is a progressive degenerative disorder that causes the eye to warp, with the cornea thinning and reshaping to become cone-like in shape.
It’s unclear what causes keratoconus, although genetics, rubbing of the eyes, and medical conditions such as glaucoma and hay fever may play a part.
In the early stages of keratoconus, patients may only need prescription glasses to correct their vision. However, your eyesight will eventually – and potentially rapidly – deteriorate, and require additional treatment.
Corneal collagen cross-linking treatment
At Medownick Laser Eye Clinic, we can treat keratoconus by performing a procedure called corneal collagen cross-linking, which can effectively stop or slow its progress and strengthen the rigidity of the cornea. The procedure takes approximately one hour and is performed as a walk-in, walk-out procedure.
The first part of procedure is similar to PRK laser treatment, where the top layer of the cornea (epithelium) is gently removed. The cornea is then saturated with a combination of collagen and riboflavin (vitamin B2), and UV light applied to activate the solution. This causes the collagen strands to bond across the cornea and strengthen it.
Following the procedure, you will be fitted with a bandage contact lens to minimise discomfort. This stays in place for up to three days. You will need to use antibiotic drops until the surface of the eye has healed, followed by steroid drops for approximately five to six weeks.