Keratoconus

Up to 1 in 400 people have Keratoconus…

How vision is affected

Keratoconus is a thinning disorder of the cornea. As it progresses, the cornea changes shape and this results in distorted vision.

Keratoconus can cause shadowy and ghosted vision which often can only be cleared up by fitting the eye with contact lenses. These help to reduce distortion and restore normal vision.

The traditional contact lenses prescribed for keratoconus are rigid gas permeables (RGPs). Although most people get on with these quite well, there are a significant number who find them difficult to tolerate. If you can’t wear your contact lenses, you can’t see, as glasses often do not give useful vision.

UltraVision has been manufacturing contact lenses for keratoconus since the mid 1990s. KeraSoft is a soft contact lens that can be fully customised to fit to the shape of keratoconic and post surgical corneas.

There have been various versions of the KeraSoft lens; KeraSoft 2, KeraSoft 3 and now KeraSoft IC.

KeraSoft IC is available in two matierial options: a 3 monthly replacement 74% water content Silicone Hydrogel material and an annual replacement 77% water content hydrogel

Traditional Management

Keratoconus has traditionally been managed by fitting contact lenses. If people could not tolerate them or the cornea became too thin and scarred to give useful vision, then the only option would be a corneal transplant.

Corneal Grafts

Although often very successful, the outcome of grafting can be variable and some people still have to rely on contact lenses after surgery in order to see.

Corneal Collagen Cross Linking (CXL)

CXL is a treatment that halts the progression of keratoconus in most people. It was developed by Professor Theo Seiler in the early 1990s and is currently undergoing FDA trials in the US.

In the UK, NICE are still evaluating it and it is available in a few NHS hospitals.

This treatment now offers hope that the condition can be halted as soon as it is detected and diagnosed.

Soft contact lenses are an ideal co-management option for CXL, both pre and post surgery.

For more information, visit the KeraSoft and CXL page.