Keratoconus

Keratoconus is one of my areas of special interest. One of my best friends had keratoconus, and when I became an ophthalmologist he kept asking me to do something about it.  I also worked in Beverley Hills with the famous Dr Brian Wachler, who was a pioneer of new treatments for this condition.

I’ve seen how this condition affects people through both my friend and my patients, and how successful treatment can completely change their lives for the better.

Keratoconus is when the windscreen of the eye is shaped like a side of a pear, not the side of an orange. In other words, it bulges rather than is perfectly circular, as with a normal eye. 

It’s a condition that affects 1 in every 500 – in Australia, that means that the number of people who have keratoconus could fill the stands of a rugby league oval (depending on who’s playing!).

It’s an inherited condition that is degenerative, and particularly affects teenagers and young adults. About 10-15% of people with keratoconus will eventually need a corneal transplant.

Keratoconus treatments

There are a number of ways we can treat keratoconus. I often use what’s called ‘collagen crosslinking’, which helps to ‘harden’ the cornea to stop the progression. Collagen crosslinking combines the use of ultra violet light and Vitamin B – it’s a bit like lying on Bondi Beach with vegemite in your eyes!

If we can successfully harden the cornea early enough, we can often avoid the need for a cornea transplant down the track.

People with keratoconus will need to wear glasses in the early stages, then contact lenses. Once contacts become intolerable, we can implant what are called

‘corneal rings’. The aim is to provide good visual outcomes while delaying the need for a cornea transplant.

As I’ve mentioned in the previous pages, transplants are needed for the most advanced cases. 

Treating keratoconus