Keratoconus Treatment in Michigan & Ohio
Keratoconus is a disease that creates a thinning of the cornea or the clear front surface of the eye. Normal outward pressure within the eye causes the cornea to progressively bulge into a cone-like shape. The change in the cornea's shape can have a dramatic impact on one's vision. In more severe cases, normal everyday activities such as driving and reading can be difficult to perform. Although keratoconus rarely results in total blindness, 20% of all patients will at some time need to undergo a corneal transplant or keratoconus surgery, according to medical experts. We offer reliable and safe keratoconus treatment options to customers in Michigan and Ohio. Give our staff of ophthalmologists a call by phone at (877) 852-8463 to discuss the benefits of receiving a keratoconus surgery.
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What Causes Keratoconus?
Researchers estimate that keratoconus affects 1 in 2,000 people. The disease affects men and women alike and there are no known differences between races.
Although the cause of the disease is unknown, research has suggested that genetics, allergies, and other environmental factors may contribute to the onset of the disease.
What Keratoconus Treatment Options Are Available?
Typically, an eye care professional will treat early-stage keratoconus with contact lenses or glasses addressing the early vision correction needs of the patient. In later stages, rigid gas-permeable contact lenses are often recommended. These contact lenses are used to improve one's vision and to brace the bulge in the cornea.
In advanced cases, where the patient can no longer achieve adequate functional vision with contact lenses, corneal transplant surgery may be necessary to alleviate the symptoms of keratoconus. Do you need a keratoconus treatment in Michigan or Ohio? Our expert ophthalmologists offer keratoconus surgery in areas such as Lansing, Chelsea, Toledo, Battle Creek, and Ann Arbor. Give our staff a call at (877) 852-8463 or request a consultation online today!
Corneal Cross-Linking
Due to the onset and progression of keratoconus, the weakened cornea loses its natural dome-like shape. As a result, the light rays entering the eye are no longer focused properly, impairing one's ability to see images clearly. Corneal cross-linking is a medical procedure that combines the use of ultra-violet (UV) light and riboflavin (vitamin B2) eye drops. The procedure works by creating new corneal collagen cross-links, which results in a shortening and thickening of collagen fibrils that leads to the stiffening of the cornea.
Our team of ophthalmologists and doctors offer corneal cross-linking treatments to clients in areas such as Jackson, Chelsea, Kalamazoo, Toledo, Ann Arbor, and Adrian. Cross-linking, which has been performed in Europe since 2003, is considered the standard of care around the world for keratoconus and corneal ecstasia following refractive surgery. Many patients in the past with keratoconus had to undergo keratoconus surgery and treatments if the disease continued to progress. Corneal cross-linking is effective in halting the progression of keratoconus and corneal ectasia.