What is The Best Keratoconus Treatment?
The “best keratoconus treatment” is not the same for all patients. However, there are excellent, commonly used methods available to us. These are treatment methods known to give the best results. Rather than give an overview of the current keratoconus treatments available, we will discuss treatments known to keratoconus specialists to give the best results? These techniques make up the standards of care for the best keratoconus treatments.
Best Keratoconus Treatments and Commonly Accepted Clinical Practices
At this time, Scleral Contact Lenses and Corneal Cross-Linking (CXL) are, without question, considered among the best keratoconus treatments. These treatments won’t benefit every patient; however, it’s highly your keratoconus specialist will discuss their use. Scleral contact lenses and CXL are not mutually exclusive and, are often used together to enhance vision and corneal health.
Scleral Contact Lenses and Corneal Cross-Linking Together
The goal in treating virtually all patients is to find the best keratoconus treatment that provides good, comfortable vision while protecting the cornea. Cross-linking increases naturally with age; therefore, younger patients are more likely to have unstable corneas. Younger patients often see a greater benefit from corneal cross-linking. Both scleral contact lenses and corneal cross-linking will be used together to stabilize their cornea and provide good comfortable vision.3
Older patients with keratoconus may not benefit from CXL due to the increased cross-linking which occurs naturally as we age. During your consultation with your corneal specialist, all of these options and many more will be discussed.4
Preventing Corneal Transplants
The best keratoconus treatments safeguard the cornea. However, patients with keratoconus need to be seen by their keratoconus specialist on a regular basis, usually at least yearly. The ideal interval; however, is something best determined by you and your doctor.
Avoiding Corneal Scarring
Regardless of whether you are wearing hybrid lenses, scleral contacts or rigid gas permeable lenses they will eventually begin to fit poorly. Patients that go too long between eye exams have a higher chance of permanently scarring their corneas. This is usually preventable by seeing your doctor on a regular basis to ensure your lenses continue to fit well.
Getting Help Finding The Best Keratoconus Treatment
Finding the best keratoconus treatment for your situation can be difficult. Dr. Richard Driscoll is a Dallas Fort Worth-based keratoconus specialist at Total Eye Care with over 30 years of experience. Dr. Driscoll is happy to discuss all of the treatment options that are available to you. To schedule a free consult with Dr. Driscoll and discuss your treatment options call 817.416.033 or you can schedule your appointment online.
About Dr. Richard Driscoll
Dr. Driscoll is a therapeutic optometrist and keratoconus specialist at Total Eye Care in Colleyville, Texas. A 1988 Graduate of the Illinois College, Dr. Driscoll has been treating patients with keratoconus for over 30 years. Following Dr. Driscoll’s Graduation from the Illinois College of Optometry, he joined the residency program at the Tuscaloosa VA Medical Center in Tuscaloosa, Alabama.
Dr. Driscoll likes to write. He wrote An Eye Doctor Answers: Explanations To Hundreds Of The Most Common Questions Patients Wish They Had Asked, available on Amazon.com, and The Patient’s Guide to Keratoconus you can download your free copy here.
References
1Ozek D, Kemer OE, Altiaylik P. Visual performance of scleral lenses and their impact on quality of life in patients with irregular corneas. Arq Bras Oftalmol. 2018 Nov./Dec.;81(6):475-480. [PubMed]
2Schornack MM, Patel SV. Scleral lenses in the management of keratoconus. Eye Contact Lens. 2010 Jan;36(1):39-44. [PubMed]
3 Li J, Ji P, Lin X. Efficacy of corneal collagen cross-linking for treatment of keratoconus: a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. PLoS One. 2015 May 18;10(5):e0127079. [PubMed]
4Kobashi H, Rong SS. Corneal Collagen Cross-Linking for Keratoconus: Systematic Review. Biomed Res Int. 2017;2017:8145651. [PubMed]