Treatment of keratoconus

Initial treatment includes correction of vision with eyeglasses. Since the disease can have a progressing nature, then in certain stages of the disease correction with eyeglasses is not effective anymore as the surface of the cornea has become very uneven.

Another treatment option is correction of vision with hard (sometimes also with soft hydrophilic) contact lenses. The space between hard contact lenses and an uneven cornea will be filled by lachrymal fluid that ensures regular correction on the surface of contact lens.

When the cornea is elongated and has become very thin it is possible to perform transplantation of the cornea from a donor (keratoplastics).

The most recently introduced treatment method is CORNEAL CROSSLINKING (CCL) WITH RIBOFLAVIN (Vitamiin B2 with manufacturer’s brand name C3-R). This treatment method strengthens collagen fibre bonds in cornea with the application of ultraviolet radiation (UVA 365 nm) and a riboflavin (Vitamin B2) photosensitive agent.

In addition to corneal strengthening it is possible to beforehand correct the vision disorder caused by changes to the corneal shape. This procedure is called COMBINED CORNEAL CORRECTION, LASER+CCL (PTK+T-CAT PRK+CCL). The procedure is a correction of corneal surface with an excimer laser after which vitamin B2 bridging is performed immediately.