Keratoconus Treatment

Keratoconus is a disease of the cornea that causes poor, distorted vision and glare. Current FDA approved treatments are therapy with hard contact lenses, Intacs, and corneal transplantation.  Keratoconus become progressively worse with time and treatments that may have worked in the early stages of the disease, such as contact lens therapy, can become ineffective.  A corneal transplant can then be necessary to improve, or save, a person’s vision. 

Corneal collagen cross linking is a procedure that is being tested to treat corneal disease such as keratoconus.  Corneal cross linking is considered to be an experimental procedure in the United States.  There are clinical trials currently going on, but the procedure has not received FDA approval at this time. Crosslinking was first performed in Europe and is considered a successful treatment option for patients with keratoconus throughout Europe and other countries.

The cause of keratoconus is largely unknown. Because it tends to run in families, it is believed to be a genetic disease. Certain underlying conditions, such as chronic allergies are thought to lead to the development of keratoconus. Eye rubbing has also been linked to an increased instance of keratoconus. The disease usually manifests itself in the teenage years, but can appear well into the 30’s.  The most common symptom of keratoconus that is noticeable to the patient is vision that seems to slowly get worse and distort over time.

If you have keratoconus and are looking for information regarding treatment options, please call Eyecare Medical Group at 207-828-2020, visit www.eyecaremed.com or facebook.com/eyecaremedicalgroup.

Eyecare Medical Group is a leading ophthalmology practice in Portland, Maine staffed by a team of eye care specialists including eye doctors who are fellowship trained glaucoma specialists, retina specialists, cornea specialists and cataract and lens implant specialists-all board certified Ophthalmologists-as well as Optometrists, Opticians, technical and administrative staff who provide eye examinations for adults and children, cataract surgery and intraocular lens implants, (IOL), laser vision correction such as LASIK, diagnosis and treatment of cornea disease including cornea transplants, care for diseases of the retina including diabetes and age related macular degeneration and diagnosis and treatment of glaucoma.

Eyecare Medical Group is conveniently located for patients from throughout Maine including Auburn, Augusta, Bangor, Bath, Berwick, Biddeford, Bridgeton, Brunswick, Cape Neddick, Casco Bay, Cumberland Center, Eliot, Freeport, Gardiner, Kennebunk, Kennebunkport, Kittery, Lewiston, Old Orchard Beach, Sanford, Scarborough, South Portland, Springvale, Topsham, Waterville, Westbrook, Winslow, Wiscasset, Yarmouth, Portland, Skowhegan and York Maine.