As an Ophthalmologist specializing in Cornea in the Bronx, I get patients who have been diagnosed with keratoconus and would like an explanation of the condition. In this article, we discuss some important aspects of keratoconus and relevant treatments.

Definition of Keratoconus:

Keratoconus is a bilateral progressive condition causing thinning and bulging of the inferior cornea. This occurs over many years and can be exacerbated by trauma and rubbing of the eyes.

Causes of Keratoconus

Keratoconus has some genetic predisposition and has been found to be more common in those that rub their eyes and people with sleep apnea. Assessing Keratoconus

Under the slit lamp there can often be many indications of thinning of the cornea. But confirmation is often found by using a corneal topography machine which will help assess the thickness and slope of the cornea. This often points to the diagnosis of keratoconus.

Treating Keratoconus: There are two aspects of treating keratoconus. One is to help with vision. Glasses can be a first step but with those who are more advanced hard contact lens are usually the better option. This is due to the fact that hard contact lens can smooth out the cornea and provide maximal vision. As for treating the condition, cross-linking was recently FDA approved and studies have shown can help stop the progress of keratoconus. In truly advanced cases, corneal transplant can be performed when the eye is too advanced for any other form of treatment. At South Bronx Eyes, Dr. Alevi is able to use all the modern technology to provide the best individual treatment for each patient. AUTHOR David Alevi MD David Alevi is a board certified corneal specialist and founder of South Bronx Eyes.