Keratoconus

If you live near New Jersey or Staten Island, Kung Eye Center is here to treat your keratoconus using the latest corneal topography treatment options, such as collagen cross-linking.

What is Keratoconus?

Keratoconus (ker-uh-toe-KOH-nus) is a progressive eye disease that occurs on the cornea, the clear part on the front surface of your eye. Keratoconus (which in Latin translates to “cone-shaped”) causes a decrease in corneal thickness, which can lead to the outward bulging of the cornea. This can cause a cone-like appearance to occur within the cornea. The disease can cause vision to become extremely blurry and many keratoconus patients complain of sensitivity to light as the corneal tissue becomes thinner and the disease progresses. Common signs and symptoms of keratoconus include:

• Blurred or distorted vision.
• Increased sensitivity to light or glare which can make night driving difficult.
• Sudden clouded or worsening vision.
• A frequent need for changes in eyeglass prescriptions.

Kung Eye diagnoses and treats keratoconus at both of its offices in Staten Island, NY, and East Brunswick, NJ.

Who is at Risk for Keratoconus?

While the cause of keratoconus is not known, both genetic and environmental factors are thought to play a part in its development. The following risk factors may increase chances for patients with keratoconus:

• Rubbing your eyes forcefully.
• Having a family history (about 1 in 10 people with this disease have a parent with this condition).
• Having certain conditions such as Down syndrome, retinitis pigmentosa, hay fever, asthma, or Ehlers-Danlos syndrome.

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Treatment Options for Keratoconus

The treatment for keratoconus will depend on the severity of your condition and how quickly it is progressing. In the early stages of the disease, it can be corrected with glasses and soft contact lenses, but with severe keratoconus, hard scleral lenses will become required in order to see somewhat clearly. If the condition keeps progressing and the cornea becomes scarred with advanced keratoconus, surgical corneal transplants may be required. Depending on the severity of your condition and corneal shape, surgical options may include:

• Penetrating keratoplasty: Full cornea transplant.
• Deep anterior lamellar keratoplasty (DALK): Corneal transplant that preserves the inside lining of the cornea.

Corneal collagen cross-linking may also be an option. During this treatment, riboflavin eye drops are placed on the cornea and treated with ultraviolet light. This causes a stiffening of the cornea, preventing further shape changes and ultimately reducing the risk of progressive vision loss.

Approximately 1 in 300 people living in the US develop keratoconus. The disease usually occurs in both eyes and typically develops between the ages of 10-25. The condition can continue to progress but usually slows or stops as a patient ages.

Frequently Asked Questions about Keratoconus

Contact Us Today

Early detection of keratoconus is key as new treatment options, such as collagen cross-linking (CXL), can be performed to slow or even stop the progression of keratoconus entirely. If you’re looking for keratoconus treatment in Central New Jersey or Staten Island, look no further than the Kung Eye Center. Contact us today to schedule your appointment.

Request an Appointment

Please call our New York office at (929) 429-2928 or our New Jersey office at (732) 724-2535 with any questions you may have.

STATEN ISLAND, NY EAST BRUNSWICK, NJ

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