Keratoconus Treatment from Your Optometrist in Las Vegas, NV
Because keratoconus usually appears in patients 10-25 years old, most vision care providers think of it as a condition associated with young people. Our doctor of optometry emphasizes that the best resolution of this disorder happens when there is early detection. Screening is available to patients who visit our Advanced Eyecare practice in Las Vegas for vision exams.
Keratoconus Overview
Keratoconus results in an eye’s cornea bulging and, over time, assuming a shape like that of a cone. The disorder occurs after corneal thinning and can progress over 10 or more years. The primary visual problems include light and glare sensitivity and blurry vision.
With a normal eye, small collagen fibers maintain the cornea in the proper position. In patients with keratoconus, however, weakened fibers fail to hold the cornea, which bulges and causes visual problems.
Research suggests that as many as 10 percent of affected individuals have a parent with the same condition. While experts have never identified a specific cause of the disorder, two other possibilities include a reduced antioxidant level and environmental factors.
Some of our optometry patients with this condition become frustrated because how and when the cornea will bulge is not predictable. In some patients, it occurs after a few years, while others experience a much more rapid progression.
Typical symptoms include:
- Vision that suddenly worsens or clouds
- Increasing frequency of eyewear prescription changes
- Blurry or distorted vision
- Growing light and glare sensitivity, most noticeable at nighttime
Treatment from Our Optometry Practice
When a patient is in the early stages of keratoconus, our Las Vegas doctor of optometry treats the condition with prescription eyeglasses. The treatment plan changes as the degree of corneal bulging advances.
Patients often benefit from following a progressive contact lens regimen that includes, in succession, soft, rigid gas permeable, piggyback, hybrid, and scleral lenses. Collagen cross-linking is a treatment that utilizes ultraviolet light and eye drops with vitamin B12.
Our optometrist might refer to some patients for surgery. One procedure is inserting intacs, which are implants that normalize the corneal curve. For some individuals, a corneal transplant is a recommendation. Our practice is happy to provide both pre and post surgical care.
Schedule an Exam with Our Las Vegas Optometrist
The focus of our Las Vegas optometry practice is meeting all your eye health needs at all stages of life. We use the latest technology available. Our full-service center offers services that include comprehensive vision exams, diagnosing and treating eye diseases, and providing corrective eyewear for your entire family. Be sure to call us at 702-737-3937 to schedule your next exam with our optometrist and become part of the Advanced Eyecare family.