Keratoconus Treatment

Doctors do not know what the definitive cause of keratoconus is. Researchers believe that the disease is likely to develop at birth. There are however, several factors that we can link to the condition. These are:

1. The loss of collagen in the cornea – Collagen helps hold your cornea in place. If your collagen is weak, your cornea begins to bulge.
2. Genetics – A family history of the disease puts you at a higher risk of developing keratoconus.
3. Certain disorders – Systemic conditions such as Down syndrome and retinitis pigmentosa
4. Chronic eye Inflammation – Allergies such as asthma contribute to the breakdown of your corneal tissue. When this happens, it may result in you developing keratoconus.
5. Eye Rubbing – Constant eye rubbing can break down your cornea over time and is another risk factor for the progression of keratoconus.
6. Age – More often than not, the disease starts, or is discovered during your teenage years. As the disease progresses, these young patients may need some form of surgical intervention.

The vast majority of keratoconus patients are unaware they even have the disease. The earliest symptom is a slight blurring of your vision. This can progress to progressively poor vision. Your eye doctor may spot signs of the disease during an eye exam. Look out for these other symptoms and mention them to your eye doctor:

• Seeing halos or glares around lights
• An increased sensitivity to bright light
• Having difficulty seeing at night
• A clouding or sudden worsening of your vision
• Headaches associated with eye pain or eye irritation.

Corneal cross-linking treatment is done to prevent this bulging by strengthening the cornea. This procedure is done in the rooms at Kloof eye with minimal discomfort and no surgical intervention. If you suffer from progressive keratoconus, corneal cross linking is currently the only effective treatment for it. For mild cases of the disease you will be prescribed with glasses or specially designed contact lenses.Corneal cross linking is a minimally invasive procedure that we use to strengthen your corneas. Our doctor uses ultraviolet light and eye drops in order to strengthen the collagen fibres in your cornea.

This out-patient procedure is done by applying vitamin B2 eye drops. We will then shine a specific type of ultra-violet light directly into your cornea. The riboflavin eye drops contain nutrients conducive to photo enhancing. This will enable cross-linking to take place. This procedure will cause new corneal collagen cross-links to develop leading to a stronger and stiffer cornea. The procedure typically lasts for about an hour and you will be awake during the process.

Post-procedure, we encourage you to avoid rubbing your eyes for up to 5 days. Side effects after the procedure include sensitivity to light and a general discomfort or burning sensation in the affected eye. Contact your eye doctor immediately if you experience more severe pain.

The team at Kloof eye are deeply dedicated to helping patients with keratoconus. Our qualified ophthalmologists constantly strive to deliver the highest quality eye care to all our patients. Our ophthalmologists and staff are here to make your visit easy, pleasant, and as comfortable as possible.

Our comprehensive ophthalmology clinic is equipped with latest state-of-the-art equipment from Zeiss that enhances your experience. Signs of keratoconus can be detected during a routine eye examination in our rooms at the Cure Day Clinic in Erasmuskloof, Pretoria.

Kloof Eye is a progressive eye surgery practice that provides patients with optimal eye care, cost-effective solutions, and friendly service. If you or anyone you know is experiencing vision problems requiring keratoconus treatment, choose Kloof Eye. Schedule a consultation with Dr. de la Bat today. We look forward to enhancing your vision and improving your quality of life.