Keratoconus and Your Treatment Options

Keratoconus is a terrifying diagnosis to those that have experienced it. To compound issues, many patients complain that they had poor initial treatment due to a lack of understanding about the disease. If proper treatment is not achieved, individuals may experience a rapid deterioration in their ability to see. This leads to a reduced quality of life. You can reduce the stress related to a keratoconus diagnosis and increase the benefits of treatment by understanding your treatment options.
 

Understanding Keratoconus

Keratoconus is an eye disease that causes the cornea to thin and bulge. This bulge generally takes on the appearance of a cone. As light enters the eye, it becomes distorted by the cone causing vision abnormalities.

Modern research is connecting keratoconus with an enzyme imbalance in the cornea. This imbalance leaves the eye susceptible to oxidative free radicals. Keratoconus has also been linked to UV damage, excessive eye rubbing, poorly fitting contacts, and chronic eye irritation.
 

Treatment Options

While your eye professional will have the best understanding of what treatment option is right for you, we have compiled ten of the most common treatments here.

• Corneal Cross-linking (CXL) – There are two different types of this procedure, but they both introduce riboflavin to the cornea in order to strengthen the corneal tissue and stop the bulging from progressing.

• Custom Soft Contact Lenses – Soft contacts are generally more comfortable to wear than gas permeable lenses. Recently, some contact companies have been able to create a contact specifically to correct the issues related to mild and moderate cases of keratoconus.

• Gas Permeable Contact Lenses – Gas permeable lenses are a hard contact lens that physically forces the eye to adhere to the lens shape. This allows for the correction of keratoconus. The fit is often time-consuming and may take several different lenses to achieve the proper fit.

• Piggybacking Contact Lenses – This method is used for individuals who require a gas permeable lens but cannot tolerate wearing rigid contacts. Piggybacking utilizes a soft lens placed on the eye first, and then a gas permeable lens is placed over the top. This offers the comfort of soft contacts with the rigidity and clarity of the gas permeable lenses.

• Hybrid Contact Lenses – Hybrid contact lenses were designed specifically for keratoconus. This technology blends a rigid contact lens center with a softer edge, or skirt, of the contact

• Scleral and Semi-Scleral lenses – These lenses are gas permeable lenses but cover a larger area of the eye than a standard rigid lens. These lenses don’t put pressure onto the cone shape of the eye. The reduced pressure results in a more comfortable fit for patients.

• Prosthetic Lenses – This lens is used specifically for patients that have very advanced keratoconus and have ruled out other options. The advanced scleral lens also doubles as a protective prosthetic shell. There are special requirements to qualify for this lens though, so check with your eye care professional if this is an option for you.

• Intacs – These implants are surgically placed in the eye. They are a small plastic insert that is inserted into the eye, just under the surface. This option is also designed for patients who could not use other contact lens types.

• Topography-Guided Conductive Keratoplasty – This treatment option is still being researched, but it uses the energy from radio waves and small probes to map the surface of the eye. This detailed mapping allows for an appropriate treatment plan for the patient.

• Corneal Transplant – Patients with advanced keratoconus may no longer be able to tolerate a contact lens, or the different lens types may not be correcting the issues. This surgery removes the damaged cornea and replaces it with a healthy cornea.

​​Precision Lens Fitting for Keratoconus with the Eaglet Eye Surface Profiler (ESP)

Living with keratoconus can make it difficult to find contact lenses that offer both clear vision and lasting comfort. At our clinic, we specialize in helping keratoconus patients regain confidence in their vision using the most advanced lens-fitting technology available—the Eaglet Eye Surface Profiler (ESP).

What Makes the ESP Unique for Keratoconus?

The Eaglet ESP is a state-of-the-art 3D imaging system that maps the entire front surface of your eye—including both the cornea and the sclera (the white part of the eye). For keratoconus patients, this level of detail is crucial to designing contact lenses that truly fit and perform well.

How It Helps Keratoconus Patients:

• Ultra-Precise Lens Fitting
  The ESP captures over 350,000 data points to create a custom lens shape that fits the irregular curvature of a keratoconic eye.

• More Comfort, Less Trial and Error
  Custom-designed lenses based on ESP scans often require fewer adjustments, meaning less time in trial lenses and more time seeing clearly and comfortably.

• Perfect for Scleral and Hybrid Lenses
  These lenses vault over the irregular cornea and rest on the sclera—making full-eye mapping essential for success. ESP ensures an optimal fit and seal.

• Improved Vision and Stability
  With a lens designed specifically for your eye’s unique shape, you’ll enjoy sharper, more stable vision throughout the day.

• Non-Invasive and Quick
  The scan is painless and completed in seconds, delivering powerful insights without discomfort.

Real Results from Real Patients

“After years of struggling with blurry vision and uncomfortable lenses, I finally found relief. The ESP scan gave me lenses that actually fit—and I can wear them all day without discomfort. It’s changed my life.”
— Mark T., Age 29, Keratoconus Patient

Get the Custom Lens Solution You Deserve

If you’ve been frustrated by poorly fitting contacts or blurry vision due to keratoconus, the Eaglet Eye Surface Profiler offers a new level of precision and hope. Combined with our expertise in specialty lens fitting, we’ll help you achieve clear, comfortable vision with lenses tailored just for you.

Take control of your keratoconus—schedule a consultation today and experience the difference with ESP technology.
 

There is hope for individuals with keratoconus. Even though the disease is degenerative, many patients report restored vision and improved quality of life when the appropriate treatment plan is in place. If you have been diagnosed with keratoconus or are having problems with your vision, see your eye care professional today.