Blurry or distorted vision can be especially frustrating when stronger glasses do not seem to solve the problem. If your prescription changes frequently or lights appear streaked and glaring at night, the cause may be keratoconus rather than a typical refractive error.
Optima Eye Care provides advanced diagnosis and treatment for keratoconus in Hayward, CA. Fellowship-trained corneal specialists Mark R. Mandel, MD, and Robin Kuriakose, MD, use detailed corneal imaging and personalized treatment planning to help protect your eyesight and improve how clearly you see.
What Is Keratoconus?
Keratoconus is a condition in which the cornea gradually becomes thinner and bulges forward into a cone-like shape. Because the cornea helps focus light inside the eye, this irregular shape can cause distorted vision, nearsightedness, and astigmatism.
Keratoconus often affects both eyes, although one eye may be more advanced than the other. It commonly begins during the teenage years or early adulthood and may continue progressing over time.
What Are the Symptoms of Keratoconus?
Symptoms vary according to the shape and stability of the cornea. Early changes may resemble ordinary nearsightedness or astigmatism, making a detailed eye examination important.
Common signs include:
- Blurry or distorted vision
- Frequent changes in an eyeglass prescription
- Increasing astigmatism
- Glare, halos, or light sensitivity
- Difficulty seeing while driving at night
- Ghost images or double vision in one eye
- Vision that remains unclear with standard glasses
- Difficulty wearing traditional contact lenses
Sudden eye pain or a rapid decline in vision requires prompt evaluation.
How Is Keratoconus Diagnosed?
Keratoconus is diagnosed by examining and measuring the cornea. In addition to checking your vision and prescription, your eye doctor may use corneal topography or tomography to create a detailed map of its shape, steepness, and thickness.
These measurements help determine:
- Whether keratoconus is present
- Where the cornea is steepest
- How thin the cornea has become
- Whether the condition is progressing
- Which treatment options may be appropriate
Regular imaging is especially important for younger patients because keratoconus can progress more quickly during adolescence and early adulthood.
What Causes Keratoconus?
The exact cause is not always clear. Keratoconus may involve a combination of inherited traits and environmental factors, and some patients have relatives with the condition.
Frequent or forceful eye rubbing may contribute to corneal damage and progression. Patients with keratoconus should avoid rubbing their eyes and seek treatment for allergies or irritation that causes persistent itching.
Treatment Options for Keratoconus
Keratoconus treatment depends on the severity of your symptoms, the shape of your cornea, and whether the condition is stable or progressing. Some treatments improve vision, while others are intended to keep the cornea from weakening further.
Options may include:
- Glasses: May provide adequate correction during the condition’s early stages
- Specialty contact lenses: Rigid or scleral lenses can create a smoother focusing surface and improve functional vision
- Corneal cross-linking: Uses riboflavin and controlled ultraviolet light to strengthen the cornea and slow or stop progression
- CTAKS: Uses customized donor corneal tissue to add thickness and improve the shape of the keratoconic cornea
- Corneal transplant: Replaces damaged corneal tissue when keratoconus is advanced and less invasive options cannot provide useful vision
Corneal cross-linking is primarily performed to stabilize progressive keratoconus rather than reverse existing thinning or fully correct vision.
How Can CTAKS Improve Keratoconus?
CTAKS, also known as corneal tissue addition keratoplasty, is a customized treatment designed to reshape and reinforce a cornea affected by keratoconus. Sterile donor corneal tissue is carefully shaped according to the patient’s corneal measurements and placed within the cornea.
The added tissue is designed to flatten overly steep areas, add thickness, and create a more regular corneal surface. This may improve uncorrected and corrected vision while offering an option less extensive than a traditional corneal transplant for eligible patients.
Why Choose Optima Ophthalmic Medical Associates, Inc. for Keratoconus Treatment
Optima Eye Care provides comprehensive corneal care rather than a one-treatment-fits-all approach. The team uses advanced imaging to evaluate your corneal shape, thickness, and progression before recommending glasses, specialty lenses, cross-linking, CTAKS, or another appropriate form of care.
Dr. Mandel and Dr. Kuriakose are fellowship-trained corneal and refractive surgeons with experience managing both early and complex keratoconus. They are supported by Optima’s knowledgeable optometrists, technicians, nurses, counselors, and surgical professionals, giving you coordinated guidance from diagnosis and monitoring through treatment and follow-up care.
Protect Your Eyesight With Keratoconus Treatment in Hayward, CA
Keratoconus can make everyday vision increasingly difficult, but early diagnosis may provide more opportunities to preserve the cornea and maintain useful eyesight. Personalized care can address both sides of the condition by helping stabilize progression and improve visual clarity.
Optima Eye Care will evaluate your corneas, explain your treatment options, and create a plan tailored to your age, eye health, symptoms, and visual goals. Call (877) 210-2020 to schedule a consultation and learn which keratoconus treatment may help you see more clearly.
