Keratoconus

What is Keratoconus?

Keratoconus is an eye condition that affects the cornea, which is the clear layer that lies in front of the iris. It is the very first layer of the eye. In a normal eye, the cornea has a gently curved surface. In keratoconus., a cone shape (like a pimple) starts to appear in the cornea.

How is Keratoconus Diagnosed?

Keratoconus can be easily diagnosed using a topographer. A topographer gives a topography, or elevation, map of the eye that allows the optometrist to easily see the elevation of the cone in the cornea.

At NVISION Eyecare® we use the state of the art, Oculus Keratograph 5m to take corneal topography maps.

How is Keratoconus Treated?

There is no cure for keratoconus, however, the vision distortion that is caused by the condition can be managed quite well with specially designed contact lenses. These lenses are not available off the shelf and require a contact lens specialist to design and fit them. Spectacle correction with keratoconus is only effective in the early stages.

There are also procedures that can be performed by an ophthalmologist that can help reduce the rate of progression of keratoconus. Your optometrist can assess if you are eligible for this treatment and refer you to the eye clinic if needed.

A corneal graft is a last resort option for patients with very severe keratoconus. This is basically where a patient’s cornea is replaced with a donor cornea. This is not a cure and a patient normally still requires to wear special contact lenses to maintain good vision.

Government Subsidy

The New Zealand Ministry of Health offers a subsidy that contributes towards the cost of fitting and contact lenses for patients with keratoconus. NVISION Eyecare® is a registered provider for this subsidy.

NVISION Eyecare^®

Ryan Mahmoud is a contact lens specialist and is an expert at fitting patients with keratoconus. He uses a variety of lens options to find the best lens option depending on the severity of keratoconus that you have. You can book an appointment with Ryan at NVISION Eyecare® online today.