Keratoconus Management: When is Corneal Cross-Linking the Best Next Step?

If you have keratoconus, you know how essential it is to get the proper treatment. While there’s no cure, specialty contact lenses or the right eyeglasses can help preserve your vision. 

Keratoconus occurs due to an irregularly shaped cornea and is most prevalent in people younger than 30. 

At Focus Refined Eye Care in Houston's The Heights and Montrose sections, Dr. Bimal Patel uses cutting-edge technology to monitor eye health and recommend vision solutions for eye diseases like keratoconus.

What is keratoconus 

This progressive eye disease affects the cornea’s shape, which, in turn, impacts the vision. A healthy cornea is ball-shaped, but one affected by keratoconus starts bulging and forms a cone shape, affecting the eyesight. 

People with keratoconus experience one or more of the following:  low or blurred vision, distorted vision, halos, or double vision. 

Scientists aren’t certain what causes this disease though they suspect genetic factors in many cases. Additionally, those with Down syndrome or asthma may be at greater risk. 

Early diagnosis helps slow the progression, and the right glasses or specialty contact lenses can help in the early stages. 

More advanced cases require a different treatment. Corneal collagen cross-linking (CXL) is expected.

What is corneal collagen cross-linking (cxl)

CXL is an FDA-approved in-office treatment that is minimally invasive. Corneal collagen cross-linking is well-researched and compelling. The therapy improves the collagen in the eyes, which helps the eye retain its ball shape rather than bulging out. 

We use special drops to numb your eye and remove part of the cornea’s outer layer. Then we add riboflavin drops to your eye, shine an ultraviolet light on your eye, and add more drops. 

The entire process takes less than two hours.

We monitor your eye and eyesight to determine the best course of treatment for keratoconus. CXL can slow the disease’s progression if your eyes reach a certain point. 

How we assess the progression of keratoconus

There are several considerations before recommending cxl care which include the change in curve and thickness of the cornea, older than fourteen years, and the disease’s severity. 

At Focus Refined Eye Care, Dr. Patel checks your eye health. He has several tests to diagnose keratoconus and it’s severity. They include: 

• Keratometry
• Topography
• Slit lamp test

These tests measure the eye’s curvature and reflection of light, and a microscope to examine the cornea shape. 

Focus Refined Eye Care supports your eye health. Located in The Heights and Montrose sections of Houston, Texas, you can book your appointment online today and start seeing better.