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Quigley Eye Specialists

Do You Suffer from Keratoconus?

The #1 Choice for Cataract Surgery in Southwest Florida*

Request Appointment

Request an Appointment at Quigley Eye Specialists

Please fill out the form to request an appointment. You will be contacted within 1 business day to confirm availability. For immediate concerns or emergencies, please call 855-734-2020.

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855-734-2020

What are the Symptoms

of Keratoconus?

Your eye doctor at Quigley Eye Specialists may spot the signs of Keratoconus during your regular eye exam. You should also mention if you’re experiencing any of the following symptoms:

  • Double vision
  • Blurry vision at near and far distance
  • Halos around bright lights
  • Ghost images
  • Vision complications while driving
Request Appointment

Request an Appointment at Quigley Eye Specialists

Please fill out the form to request an appointment. You will be contacted within 1 business day to confirm availability. For immediate concerns or emergencies, please call 855-734-2020.

Treating Keratoconus with

Corneal Cross-Linking.

In corneal cross-linking, doctors use eyedrop medication and ultraviolet light from a special machine to make the tissues in your cornea stronger. The goal is to keep the cornea from bulging more. It’s called “cross-linking” because it adds bonds between the collagen fibers in your eye. They work like support beams to help the cornea stay stable.

Corneal cross-linking is the only treatment that can stop progressive keratoconus from getting worse. And it may help you avoid a corneal transplant, which is major surgery.

Dr. Kai-Lewis can do the corneal cross-linking procedure in office. First, you’ll get drops that numb your eyes and a medicine to calm you if needed. Then he’ll put in specially formulated riboflavin eyedrops, which allow your cornea to better absorb light. It takes about 30 minutes for the drops to soak into your cornea.

Then, you’ll lie back in a chair and look up at a light. You shouldn’t feel any pain during the procedure because your eyes will be numb. The entire treatment takes about 60-90 minutes.

Request Appointment

Request an Appointment at Quigley Eye Specialists

Please fill out the form to request an appointment. You will be contacted within 1 business day to confirm availability. For immediate concerns or emergencies, please call 855-734-2020.

Questions?

Can keratoconus damage my vision?
Changes to the cornea can make it impossible for your eye to focus without glasses or contact lenses. In fact, you may need a corneal transplant to restore your sight if the condition gets bad enough.
Can I have laser eye surgery if I suffer from keratoconus?
Laser vision correction surgery is dangerous if you have keratoconus. It can weaken your cornea more and make your vision worse. Even if you have only a small degree of keratoconus, don’t get LASIK surgery.
How is keratoconus diagnosed?
Your doctor needs to measure the shape of your cornea. There are different ways, but the most common is called corneal topography. The doctor snaps a photo of your cornea and checks it closely. Children of parents with keratoconus should have one every year starting at age 10.
How is keratoconus treated?
You’ll probably start with new glasses. If you have a mild case, new eyeglasses should clear things up. If they don’t, your doctor at Quigley Eye Specialists will suggest contact lenses. Rigid gas permeable contacts are usually the first choice. Over time, you may need other treatments to strengthen your cornea and improve your sight.

A treatment called cornea collagen crosslinking may stop the condition from getting worse. Or your doctor could implant a ring called an Intacs under the cornea’s surface to flatten the cone shape and improve vision.

When other treatments don’t give you good vision, the last resort is a cornea transplant. This is a very safe operation, and it’s successful in more than 90% of cases. The doctor will remove the center of your cornea, replace it with one from a donor, and stitch the new one into place. You may need contact lenses afterward.