Keratoconus Clinic

 

Keratoconus is a progressive eye disease that usually begins in adolescence or early adulthood and progresses gradually until the age of about 35-40 years. In this disease, the cornea progressively thins and the shape of the cornea distorts. A normal cornea is spherical in shape, but in a Keratoconus patient, the cornea gradually bulges outward into a cone shape. Since cornea is the most important refractive surface of the eye, an irregularity created at the cornea surface negatively affects the refraction of light entering the eye, reducing the image quality created on the retina. Keratoconus usually affects both eyes, although its intensity may vary greatly from one eye to another.

According to previous studies, Keratoconus is more common in Iran compared to other countries. Also the development of the disease is not the same across Iran. It seems that the climatic conditions as well as genetic differences can be effective in the occurrence of these differences.

An important problem in Keratoconus diagnosis is that in the early stages of the disease, it has a hidden state and does not cause severe vision problems, but it progresses over time and causes serious visual impairment. In the early stages of the disease, the problem may only be continuous modification of glasses, double vision, halos or glare, but with disease progression and exacerbation of corneal irregularity, the vision will gradually get worse.

Since the disease progresses over time, early diagnosis and timely treatment is crucial in controlling it. A thorough eye examination, corneal imaging with different topography techniques and familial background checks can be useful in the early diagnosis of Keratoconus. Although no define "cure" for this disease is currently known, thanks to rapid advances in the field of ophthalmology, more effective methods to control the disease are presented annually and each of these procedures is useful and efficient in specific stages of keratoconus.

In early stages, wearing contact lenses can help keratoconus patients. A variety of contact lenses have been designed whose main purpose is covering the entire corneal surface irregularities and creating a good optical surface on the eye. Gas Permeable hard lenses (GP), hybrid lenses (such as Clear Kone) and scleral contact lenses (including PROSE) can all help to correct the patient's vision in various stages of the disease. It should be noted that wearing contact lenses can only help to improve the vision, and does not stop the disease process.

Another method of treating the disease is the corneal ring implantation. This can correct the major part of the corneal surface irregularities and improve the condition to a great extent.

One of the major developments in the treatment of Keratoconus is corneal Cross Linking which is currently the only known treatment that can stop the progression of Keratoconus. In this therapy, by using a series of chemical modifications, corneal tissue is reinforced and its strength is increased, therefore the disease progression greatly slows down.

Ultimately in advanced cases, when none of the above treatments can help to improve a person's vision, performing a corneal transplant is necessary.

Choosing each of these procedures or using a combination of them is based on a close relationship between the patients and their ophthalmologists, the ophthalmologist’s experience, and having an access to proper diagnostic and treatment facilities.

Noor Eye Hospital, possessing the most advanced diagnostic facilities and having access to the best techniques in the treatment of keratoconus, has proudly established a specialty clinic for keratoconus to provide the best services to patients. In this clinic, the most experienced corneal subspecialists offer their services to patients; thus consulting, diagnosis and treatment are easily provided.

Also lens department of Noor Eye Hospital, with access to a wide range of Keratoconus specialty contact lenses, is honored to provide services to patients. We hope to help keratoconus patients to have a better vision and more comfortable life, by offering them the best and highest level of service at the keratoconus clinic of Noor Eye Hospital. Please contact us.

Our 24-hour telephone number to make an appointment: +982182400