Keratoconus
Services at Optometrist Parramatta
Keratoconus Screening and Treatment
Keratoconus is a progressive eye disease causing the normally round, dome-shaped cornea to thin and bulge into a cone-like shape. The cornea’s role is to help refract and focus light coming into the eye onto the retina. The thinning and irregular shape of the cornea deflects the light on its way to the retina, causing blurred and distorted vision.
Risk factors include excessive eye rubbing, chronic eye irritation and overexposure to UV light from the sun. It has been linked to other conditions including hay fever, glaucoma and sleep apnoea.
Keratoconus generally affects people in their adolescence or early 20s and is known to progress faster in younger patients. In most cases, it stabilises by the mid-30s.
There are a number of treatments available for keratoconus, including:
- Rigid contact lenses (e.g. gas permeable lenses) – replace the irregular shape of the cornea with a smooth uniform refractive surface to improve vision
- Corneal cross-linking – strengthens the corneal tissue to stop the bulging of the eye’s surface
- Intacs – arc-shaped corneal inserts that are surgically positioned to reshape the surface of the eye for clearer vision
- Corneal grafts or transplants – for advanced cases of keratoconus where contact lenses or other therapies are no longer effective
Given the fast progression of this condition in a person’s teens and early 20s, it is vital to get your kids’ eyes examined regularly from a young age. This allows your optometrist to monitor their vision over time and ensure any changes are picked up early.
You can rest assured that our independent optometrists invest in leading diagnostic tools and have the experience to provide a thorough assessment of your eye health.
Our optometrists screen for keratoconus as part of our comprehensive 360° Eye Test.
We also offer a specialised Keratoconus 360° Eye Exam which includes additional tests to monitor the condition and evaluate treatments. This exam is recommended for patients who have been diagnosed with keratoconus every 12 months.
Early detection is key
If Keratoconus is detected early, vision can be corrected with glasses. However, once the condition progresses there is still a range of treatments and therapies available including rigid contact lenses and surgical options.
Book a 360° Eye Test today
