Keratoconus Treatment in Las Vegas & Henderson, NV

At Wellish Abrams Vision Institute, keratoconus treatment may include specialty vision correction, ongoing monitoring, and corneal cross-linking (CXL) to strengthen the cornea and slow disease progression.

What Is Keratoconus?

Keratoconus is a progressive condition of the eye in which the front of the eye changes shape, resembling a cone. The corneal tissue becomes thinner and weaker over time. This changes how light enters the eye and can cause blurry, distorted vision that may be difficult to correct with standard glasses.

Keratoconus often develops gradually. For some people, changes remain relatively mild. For others, the condition progresses and can significantly affect vision. Identifying progression is important because treatments such as corneal cross-linking can strengthen the cornea and help prevent the condition from worsening.

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Close-up 3/4 view of an eye showing a cone-shaped corneal bulge, illustrating how a medical eye exam vs routine eye exam may evaluate keratoconus at Wellish Abrams Vision Institute.

What Does Keratoconus Vision Look Like?

Keratoconus affects everyone differently, but one of the most common clues is vision that continues changing despite updated prescriptions.

Symptoms can include:

  • Blurry or distorted vision
  • Increasing astigmatism
  • Frequent changes in glasses or contact lens prescriptions
  • Glare or halos around lights
  • Difficulty seeing at night
  • Increased sensitivity to light
  • Difficulty getting sharp vision with standard glasses
  • Vision that appears different between the two eyes

 

How Is Keratoconus Diagnosed?

Keratoconus cannot be diagnosed based on blurry vision alone. At Wellish Abrams Vision Institute, Dr. Rohani or Dr. Abrams will perform a comprehensive eye exam to evaluate the shape, thickness, and overall health of your cornea. Specialized corneal imaging, such as corneal topography or tomography, can create a detailed map of the corneal surface and help identify irregularities associated with keratoconus.

Your doctor may also compare measurements over time to determine whether the condition is stable or continuing to progress. This distinction matters because the goal of treatment may be different for someone with stable keratoconus than for someone whose cornea is actively changing.

Keratoconus, eye disease, Flat vector illustration medicine

Keratoconus Treatment Options

During the earlier stages of keratoconus, glasses may provide adequate vision correction.

As the cornea becomes more irregular, however, glasses may no longer fully correct the distortion caused by the condition.

Specialty contact lenses can help create a more regular optical surface over an irregular cornea.

Depending on your eyes, this may include rigid gas-permeable lenses, hybrid lenses, scleral lenses, or other specialty contact lens designs.

These lenses can significantly improve functional vision for some people, but they do not stop keratoconus from progressing.

For patients with progressive keratoconus, corneal cross-linking (CXL) may be recommended to strengthen corneal tissue and reduce the likelihood of further worsening.

Cross-linking uses riboflavin and controlled ultraviolet light to create additional bonds within the collagen fibers of the cornea. These additional cross-links make the corneal tissue stronger and more resistant to further changes in shape.

The primary purpose of cross-linking is stabilization. It is intended to slow or stop progression rather than replace glasses or contact lenses.

Some patients may continue to need vision correction after the procedure.

Learn More About Corneal Cross-Linking

 

What causes keratoconus?

Not only is the cause still undetermined, but the disease itself is also unpredictable – some cases will remain static in a mild state, while others continue to degenerate.

These are some of the possible factors that are involved, though it’s not clear whether the possibilities cause the keratoconus or simply take advantage of a person who has weak corneas due to the developing condition:

  • Hereditary links: While there does sometimes appear to be a genetic link (in less than 10 percent of cases), most patients with keratoconus do not have any family members who have had the condition.
  • Enzyme imbalances and/or oxidative stress: Recent research indicates a link between keratoconus and an imbalance of enzymes in the cornea. This could indicate a difference in how normal vs. keratoconus-affected corneas repair themselves when free-radical cells are involved.
  • Eye-rubbing, allergies, and/or poorly fitting contact lenses: Excessive rubbing of the surface of the eye – whether by hand or by contact lenses that irritate the eye – has been suggested as a cause, but not proven.
  • Ultraviolet exposure: The incidence of keratoconus is also associated with overexposure to ultraviolet rays from the sun.

Keratoconus is a condition that requires the expertise of a cornea specialist to diagnose and treat. Because it develops over time, it’s very important to see your eye doctor for regular exams, especially if you’ve noticed any loss of clarity of vision.

Wellish Abrams Vision Institute is highly invested in the health of your eyes. Contact us today with any questions on eye care or keratoconus. Or, schedule a consultation by calling (702)-733-2020.

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If symptoms of corneal diseases make you uncomfortable and interfere with your daily life, call us. Our eye doctors have the expertise and tools to give you the relief you need.

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FAQ About Keratoconus

Keratoconus is a progressive condition in which the cornea becomes thinner and gradually bulges outward into a cone-like shape. This can cause blurry, distorted vision and irregular astigmatism.

Common symptoms include blurry or distorted vision, frequent changes in glasses prescriptions, increasing astigmatism, glare or halos, light sensitivity, and difficulty seeing clearly at night. Symptoms may become more noticeable as keratoconus progresses.

The exact cause of keratoconus is not fully understood. Genetic and environmental factors may play a role. Eye rubbing and a family history of keratoconus are associated with an increased risk

Keratoconus can progress, although the rate varies from person to person. Regular eye exams and corneal imaging can help determine whether the condition is stable or continuing to change. Early detection is important because treatment may help slow or stop progression.

Keratoconus is diagnosed through a comprehensive eye examination and specialized corneal imaging. Tests such as corneal topography and tomography can map the shape and thickness of the cornea and help identify early or progressive changes.

Yes. Treatment depends on the severity and progression of the condition. Options may include glasses, specialty contact lenses, corneal cross-linking, and, in advanced cases, corneal surgery or a corneal transplant.

Corneal cross-linking (CXL) is a treatment designed to strengthen the cornea and slow or stop the progression of keratoconus. It uses riboflavin and controlled ultraviolet light to create additional bonds within the corneal collagen.

Corneal cross-linking is intended to stabilize the cornea and reduce the risk of further progression. It does not reverse all existing changes or eliminate the need for glasses or contact lenses, but early treatment may help preserve vision and reduce the likelihood of future complications.

Glasses may provide clear vision in the earlier stages of keratoconus. As the cornea becomes more irregular, specialty contact lenses—including rigid gas-permeable, hybrid, and scleral lenses—may provide better vision. These treatments improve vision but do not stop keratoconus from progressing.

There is currently no known cure for keratoconus. However, treatments can help manage vision and, when keratoconus is progressing, corneal cross-linking may help stabilize the cornea and slow or stop further progression. Advanced cases may require corneal surgery.

Locations

Doctors

Nilou Rohani, MD
Nilou Rohani, MD

Board-certified Ophthalmologist, Cataract & Refractive Surgeon, Keratoconus Specialist

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Jack Abrams, MD
Jack Abrams, MD

Fellowship-trained Cataract, Refractive, Glaucoma, and Oculofacial Surgeon

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