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Keratoconus
Contact Lens Specialist

Keratoconus is a prevalent corneal condition that typically manifests in adolescents and young adults. Our team of Contact Lens Specialists possesses the expertise to develop tailored treatments, such as specialty contact lenses, to address this condition. These lenses can effectively restore normal vision without the need for surgery. If you experience any symptoms of blurry or distorted vision, we encourage you to schedule an appointment with Florida Optical Services. You may do so by contacting us directly or utilizing our convenient online booking system. Keratoconus Specialists helping you see your best!

Corneal Topography

Florida Optical Services has modern equipment for the evaluation and management of Keratoconus and Irregular corneas. Our Contact Lens Specialist is experienced and has worked at various prestigious Ophthalmology centers in Houston, Texas.

What is Keratoconus?

Keratoconus is a progressive eye condition that affects the cornea, the clear, dome-shaped structure that covers the front of the eye. Over time, the cornea becomes thinner and begins to bulge outwards, taking on a conical shape. This can lead to various vision problems that can significantly impact an individual's quality of life. Seeking prompt medical attention is crucial for the effective of this condition.

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What are symptoms of Keratoconus?

Keratoconus is a condition that can cause irregular astigmatism, leading to vision problems. While glasses may help in the early stages, they eventually will not correct your sight to a functioning level leading to low vision impairments. As it progresses, special contact lenses may be necessary to correct your vision as they can correct the irregular corneal surface. Keratoconus can affect both eyes, with each eye experiencing its own symptoms and worsening at different rates. Early symptoms may include blurry, distorted lines, sensitivity to light, redness, and swelling.

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Large amounts of astigmatism is a sign of Keratoconus?

If your eyeglass prescription has high amounts of astigmatism and you do not see well enough with your glasses, that is a sign that you may have Keratoconus. At this point, you should explore scleral lenses and other types of contact lenses specially designed by your contact lens specialist to mask a large amount of astigmatism and get you back on seeing well.

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Scleral Lenses or Soft Lenses?

Scleral contact lenses can help people with irregularly shaped corneas correct their vision. These RGP lenses are larger than regular contacts, have a vault at the center of the lens, and rest only on the whites of your eyes, never touching your cornea. The space created within the contact lens is filled with fluid, which masks the irregular astigmatism caused by the bulging irregular cornea, creating a smooth refractive surface.

 

Kerasoft Thin is another option besides Scleral or RGP cone lenses. These soft lenses correct almost all irregular corneas. They are more comfortable than RGP cone lenses and have fewer handling (insertion/removal) challenges than scleral lenses. This is another revolutionary development in keratoconus lenses. 

Novakone is another soft lens designed for individuals with Keratoconus, ranging from minor to severe cases. Our experienced specialists are fully credentialed in fitting these lenses and are here to guide you through all available options. We take pride in explaining the unique advantages of each lens to ensure you make an informed choice for your vision needs. Trust our expertise to help you achieve the best possible outcome.

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Hybrid lenses For Keratoconus and Other Astigmatism Conditions.

We offer Specialty Soft Hybrid Lenses and revolutionary designs for Keratoconus and other conditions.   Soft skirt, RGp lens centrally. These Lenses are great for:

  • All Stages of Keratoconus

  • Pellucid Marginal Degeneration

  • Post Corneal Surgery

  • Post Lasik Ectasia

  • Natural Ectasia

The Fitting Process

Once we determine that you have a large amount of astigmatism, we look at your cornea with a biomicroscope to determine if we can view an anomaly or bulging of your eye. 

The most common finding is a peripheral pigment called Fleisher rings, which are pigmented rings at the edge of your cornea. These rings only appear in Keratoconus. 

Our specialist will then measure your corneal diameter and the usual pupil size in regular lighting. Then a scleral lens will be put on your eye. These lenses are large in diameter, vaulted, and always rest on the white of your eyes (Sclera) outside the corneal area. The lens is filled with an unpreserved saline solution; the vaulted section will remain with that fluid while wearing the lens. This solution is routinely replaced daily to avoid contamination.  

If you are fitted with our soft lenses for keratoconus, a fitting session in which the lenses are selected based on computerized measurements, lens movement, lens rotation, and comfort. The initial session is longer than a scleral lens fitting or a regular RGP cone.

 

Regular RGP keratoconus lenses are still fitted, and many successful patients wear them. These lenses come in many designs and are routinely fitted at our practice. They provide crisp, clear vision at almost all levels, from initial keratoconus to the most advanced one. 

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Cross Linking to Stabilize The Cornea

If we deem that your irregular astigmatism is increasing, we may opt to do a procedure called cross-linking. The goal is to try to stop the increase of irregular corneal astigmatism. Cross-linking is not a refractive correction. It makes the corneal tissue stronger. Cross-linking is a relatively new procedure in which the cornea is exposed to UV light after slightly removing the corneal epithelium. Then Riboflavin  (Vitamin B) is instilled into the eye for about 20-30 minutes. The eye is then exposed to UV light for 30 minutes. This process makes the cornea (stiffer) by binding collagen fibers together. The Physician will prescribe an antibiotic that usually has a cortisone. Safety is about 95%. and final results are encouraging as the astigmatism remains constant, allowing you to continue wearing your contact lenses and avoiding corneal transplantation. 

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