Keratoconus

Keratoconus is a degenerative disorder that affects the cornea.  The cornea is the clear membrane that covers the colored part of the eye and pupil. The cornea is the “window” of the eye and is the most powerful lens in the eye as well. Keratoconus is a corneal disease that causes structural changes within the cornea which cause the cornea to thin and bulge outward into a steeper, irregular, more conical shape than its normal gradual curve. 

Keratoconus can cause substantial visual loss of vision, image distortion, streaking of lights, sensitivity to light, and multiple images., etc.  Keratoconus affects around almost one person in a thousand.  However, the exact cause of keratoconus is uncertain.  It has been linked to genetic factors and associated with detrimental abnormal enzyme activity in the cornea.  It has also been associated with inherited or genetically linked factors within the cornea.  However, the findings are still inconclusive. 

Many patients with keratoconus may be treated with corrective lenses, glasses, contact lenses, intrastromal corneal ring segments, and as a last resort, corneal transplantation.  In order to stabilize the cornea, keep the keratoconus from progressing and even avoid having to have a corneal transplant, many patients now have chosen to travel around the world to have corneal collagen crosslinking, also known as "CXL."

We were the first FDA Approved site for this clinical trial in Houston, Texas and we are still currently involved in this study.  If you or someone you know has been diagnosed with keratoconus and you live in or near the Houston area, please feel free to call or contact us for more information.  We encourage you to visit our Crosslinking page for more information on this procedure and its wonderful results.