Instituto De La Visión Dr. Méndez
Versión en Español
Keratoconus
Approximately one in every 2,000 persons suffers from keratoconus, a corneal dystrophy in which this organ (the cornea) becomes thinner.
The cornea is a transparent tissue in the anterior surface of the eye. This slimming is progressive, so the cornea deforms into becoming a cone. This provokes dramatic changes in vision and in the life's of those suffering from this illness.
The first step for patients with keratocounus is wearing contact lenses. A large percentage of persons have a normal lifestyle with the use of contacts. For those whose eyes cannot tolerate contacts the next step is placing Intracorneal Rings (Intacs). Only a qualified ophthalmologist can prescribe if a patient is a candidate for these rings to be placed.
Keratoconus does not cause total blindness; approximately only 20% of patients with keratoconus require a corneal transplant.
