What Is Keratoconus?

Keratoconus is a progressive eye condition in which the cornea, normally round and evenly curved, gradually thins and bulges outward into an irregular, cone-like shape. As the cornea’s shape changes, it can no longer focus light evenly onto the retina, leading to blurred, distorted vision that’s often accompanied by increased sensitivity to light and glare.

Keratoconus typically develops in the teenage years or early adulthood and tends to progress gradually over several years before stabilizing, often by a patient’s thirties or forties. The irregular curvature it causes differs from that of typical astigmatism, so keratoconus can be more difficult to correct with standard glasses or soft contact lenses and may require a specialist familiar with managing irregular corneas.

What Causes Keratoconus?

Experts don’t fully understand the direct cause of keratoconus, but research points to a combination of genetic and environmental factors that weaken corneal collagen, making the cornea more prone to thinning and bulging.

Contributing factors can include:

A family history of keratoconus
Chronic eye rubbing, which can accelerate corneal thinning
Certain allergic conditions, such as eye allergies or atopic disease
Connective tissue disorders
Hormonal changes, particularly during puberty, which may accelerate progression

Because keratoconus can run in families and often progresses more quickly during the teenage years, regular eye exams are especially important for younger patients with a family history of the condition or with frequent changes in their glasses prescription.

Why Choose Metrolina Eye Associates for Keratoconus Treatment?

Keratoconus calls for a specialist who understands both the science of the disease and the full range of ways to treat it.

Here’s what sets Metrolina Eye Associates apart:

Specialized Cornea Expertise: Dr. Brown specializes in the medical and surgical management of corneal disease, including full and partial corneal transplantation and CAIRS, one of the few surgeons in the country offering this advanced technique for keratoconus.
Personalized Treatment Plans: There’s no one-size-fits-all approach here. Your treatment is built around your eyes, your lifestyle, and your long-term vision goals.
Access to Advanced Technology: From diagnosis to treatment, we use the latest tools and techniques to catch keratoconus early and manage it effectively at every stage.
A Full Range of Options: We offer solutions for many stages of keratoconus, all under one roof.
Convenient, Trusted Care: With multiple locations across the greater Charlotte area, we make it easy to get expert keratoconus care close to home.

Whatever stage your keratoconus is at, our team has the experience and resources to guide you toward the clearest, most stable vision possible.

Keratoconus Treatments

Keratoconus treatment isn’t one-size-fits-all. The right option depends on how far the condition has progressed and how it’s affecting your vision, and Dr. Brown will walk you through which approach makes the most sense for your eyes.

CAIRS (Corneal Allogenic Intrastromal Ring Segments)

CAIRS is an advanced procedure that uses small segments of donor corneal tissue, placed within the layers of your own cornea, to gently reshape and flatten its curvature.

By restoring a more regular corneal shape, CAIRS can improve vision and help stabilize keratoconus, often reducing the need for more invasive surgery down the road. Dr. Brown is one of the few surgeons in the country offering this technique.

Corneal Transplant

For patients with advanced keratoconus who aren’t good candidates for other treatments, a corneal transplant may be recommended to restore clearer vision. Depending on how much of the cornea is affected, Dr. Brown may recommend a full-thickness transplant or a partial-thickness technique that replaces only the damaged layers, preserving as much of your own healthy cornea as possible.

Early signs often include mild blurring or distortion of vision, increased sensitivity to light and glare, and frequent changes in eyeglass or contact lens prescriptions. Because these symptoms can be subtle at first, keratoconus is sometimes not diagnosed until it has progressed.

Keratoconus can run in families, and having a parent or sibling with the condition increases your risk of developing it. If you have a family history of keratoconus, regular corneal evaluations are recommended, especially during the teenage and young adult years.

There is currently no cure for keratoconus, but it can be effectively managed. Treatments like CAIRS and corneal transplant are designed to improve vision and stabilize the shape of the cornea, helping patients maintain functional, comfortable vision.

Not necessarily. Many patients with mild to moderate keratoconus can manage their vision successfully with specialty contact lenses. Surgical options like CAIRS or corneal transplant are generally reserved for more advanced cases or when other treatments no longer provide adequate vision.

Keratoconus is typically progressive, meaning it can continue to change over several years, though the rate of progression varies from person to person. It often stabilizes by a patient’s thirties or forties. Regular monitoring allows Dr. Brown to track any changes and adjust your treatment plan as needed.

Schedule Your Keratoconus Consultation

If you’ve been diagnosed with keratoconus, or you’re experiencing symptoms like blurred vision or frequent prescription changes, Dr. Brown and the team at Metrolina Eye Associates are here to help.

Schedule an appointment today at a Metrolina Eye Associates office near you in the greater Charlotte, NC area.

Keratoconus

Trusted Keratoconus Expertise, Close to Home

Keratoconus Specialist Serving Charlotte and Surrounding Areas