What are the latest treatments for keratoconus and astigmatism?

  • Thread starter siddharth
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In summary, one year ago, the eye clinic diagnosed the speaker with astigmatism, but now believes they have keratoconus. The only long term treatment is a cornea transplant. The speaker has an appointment with a cornea specialist tomorrow and hopes it is still in the early stages. The speaker's friend shares that cornea surgery is common and successful. They discuss contact lenses as a possible treatment and the specialist will probably prescribe them. The speaker shares that the specialist said it may even recede in some cases. The specialist also removed an iron particle from the speaker's cornea. The speaker asks about the friend's experience with keratoconus and they discuss rgp lenses and potential complications.
  • #1
siddharth
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The eye clinic which initially diagnosed me with astigmatism a year back, now says I most probably have Keratoconus. The prognosis looks gloomy :frown:. The only long term treatment seems to be a cornea transplant.

I think the eye clinic should have diagnosed this earlier. I've fixed an appointment with a cornea specialist tomorrow to confirm it. I hope it's still in the early stage.

You never know how valuable vision is, until there's some trouble.
 
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  • #2
Very sorry to hear that, Sid. W's nieces and nephew were all born with retinitis pigmentosa, so I have a pretty good idea of how you feel. On the bright side, cornea surgery is very common and successful these days. We're pulling for you. :smile:
 
  • #3
siddharth said:
The only long term treatment seems to be a cornea transplant.

Did they already tell you that you are not a candidate for RGP lenses? Here is a good site that tells contact lens options for those with keratoconus:
http://www.bostonsight.org/keratoconus.htm"

I would be interested in what the cornea specialist has to say.
 
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  • #4
Are they going to give you contact lenses to correct your vision? That seems to be the treatment unless it has progressed too far, it sounds like you should be in the early stages.

It seems only 10-25% of the cases become severe enough to consider surgery.

The specialist will probably prescribe contacts. Good luck and keep us informed!

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Keratoconus
 
  • #5
I was diagnosed with keratoconus nearly 20 yrs ago. I believe that I had the condition for some years before that. The first eye doctor to look, missed it altogether, it was not then and is still not a common condition. I had a cornea transplant about 8 years ago, and now have much better vision in that eye (my left). Evidently I have slight bit in my right eye that is being controlled with contacts.

My left cornea was unusual in the uniformity and steepness of the cone, which made it difficult to fit a contact. In those days it was a common occurrence for the contact to slip off of the cornea and since the curvatures on the side of my eye did not match the cornea it would attach itself like a suction cup to my eye. This was a major pain event. I lived with this as a daily event until I lost 3 contacts in a week. At that time I did not have health insurance and simply could not afford to replace the expensive contacts. I went 5 years with no correction in my left eye, essentially I was blind in that eye. Soon after getting a job which provided health insurance I had a cornea transplant. Live has been much better since.
 
  • #6
Some good news! The specialist took a corneal topography and said that it's still at a very early stage. He did prescribe contacts. From monday, I'll be wearing rigid gas permeable lens.

Evo said:
Are they going to give you contact lenses to correct your vision? That seems to be the treatment unless it has progressed too far, it sounds like you should be in the early stages.

It seems only 10-25% of the cases become severe enough to consider surgery.

The specialist will probably prescribe contacts. Good luck and keep us informed!

Yep, that's what he said. He even said that in some cases, keratoconus may even recede.

He also removed an iron particle which was stuck in my left cornea. It must have come during the https://www.physicsforums.com/showthread.php?t=96088" I did. It's scary when they stick a needle in your eye!

Integral, do you use a rgp lenses or scleral lenses? Also, did you experience corneal hydrops? That sounds scary.
 
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  • #7
siddharth said:
Some good news! The specialist took a corneal topography and said that it's still at a very early stage. He did prescribe contacts. From monday, I'll be wearing rigid gas permeable lens.



Yep, that's what he said. He even said that in some cases, keratoconus may even recede.

He also removed an iron particle which was stuck in my left cornea. It must have come during the https://www.physicsforums.com/showthread.php?t=96088" I did. It's scary when they stick a needle in your eye!

Integral, do you use a rgp lenses or scleral lenses? Also, did you experience corneal hydrops? That sounds scary.
Yes, I were rgp lenses in both eyes.

Hydrops? I am not familiar with the term, so I guess the answer is no. Several years ago I did have to fight off a rejection event. It took about 2yrs to get it back undercontrol. All is fine now.
 
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1. What is the difference between keratoconus and astigmatism?

Keratoconus is a progressive eye disorder that causes the cornea to become thin and bulge outwards in a cone shape, leading to distorted vision. Astigmatism is a refractive error in which the cornea is irregularly shaped, causing blurred vision at all distances.

2. What are the symptoms of keratoconus and astigmatism?

The symptoms of keratoconus include blurry or distorted vision, sensitivity to light, and difficulty seeing at night. Astigmatism symptoms include blurry or distorted vision, eyestrain, and headaches.

3. How are keratoconus and astigmatism diagnosed?

Keratoconus and astigmatism can be diagnosed through a comprehensive eye exam, which may include visual acuity tests, corneal mapping, and measurement of corneal curvature. Specialized tests, such as corneal topography or corneal pachymetry, may also be used to diagnose keratoconus.

4. Can keratoconus and astigmatism be treated?

Yes, both conditions can be treated. Astigmatism can be corrected with glasses, contact lenses, or refractive surgery. Keratoconus can be managed with glasses or contact lenses in the early stages, but as the condition progresses, a corneal transplant may be necessary.

5. Is keratoconus related to other eye conditions?

Keratoconus has been linked to other eye conditions, such as atopic diseases (e.g. eczema, allergies), eye rubbing, and genetic factors. It is important to inform your eye doctor if you have any family history of keratoconus or other related conditions.

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