Question 1

hello dr. 
does the prk surgery cause a keratoconus ?

Accepted Answer

PRK surgery: can "worsen" EXISTING keratoconus and the latter may exclude you from having the surgery!  A complete discussion with your OPTHAMOLOGIST is a MUST!
Hope this is helpful
DR Z

Question 2

i (25yo) am interested in prk. mom had lasik done, but my little bro has keratoconus. my doc has never indicated i have kera. is prk safe for me?

Accepted Answer

PRK: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/pmc3085147/ is the best site to understand the complex genetic-environmental interaction so no one can know exactly but at 25 i would go ahead with it if the eye doctor agrees.

Question 3

how is keratoconus typically treated?

Accepted Answer

Eyeglasses/contacts: In most cases, patients with keratoconus can be treated with eyeglasses or gas permeable contact lenses. If the keratoconus progresses, surgical therapies exist to treat it. A key new treatment for this is collagen cross linking. Other surgical treatments include Intacs to support the cornea mechanically; and finally, a corneal transplant can be done.

Question 4

what is the probability of developing keratoconus?

Accepted Answer

Keratoconus: Keratoconus is thought to affect 1 in 1000 to 1 in 2000 patients.  Thankfully, there is a simple treatment that can stop keratoconus from worsening - called corneal collagen cross linking.  If you are concerned that you may have keratoconus, please see your doctor and get a corneal topography which will examine the shape of your cornea.

Question 5

could lasik lead to keratoconus?

Accepted Answer

Technically, no.: But doing lasik on a patient with keratoconus could be disastrous.  Additionally, ablating too much corneal tissue during the lasik procedure could result in a corneal ectasia.  This type of thinning can lead to abnormal corneal curvature, distortion of vision and a condition resembling, in some ways, keratoconus.  Best to discuss with your lasik doc.

Question 6

are there any treatments for keratoconus?

Accepted Answer

Keratoconus: Yes there are treatments and this must be done under the care of an ophthalmologist.

Question 7

are there any new treatments for keratoconus?

Accepted Answer

Yes: Vitamin b2/riboflavin  eye drops along with ultraviolet light has been successfully used in clinical trials to strengthen the cornea  and reduce the need for corneal transplants.  See http://www.Youtube.Com/watch?V=skh9mejytra.

Question 8

corneal collagen cross-linking for keratoconus, what to do?

Accepted Answer

Crosslinking: Corneal collagen crosslinking for keratoconus is an effective treatment, as it stops the progression of keratoconus, and in most patients, will result in improvement in corneal shape and improvement in vision.  Crosslinking is available throughout the world, and in the us, at more than 100 sites.  Cxlusa.Com provides a directory of us locations.

Question 9

i have keratoconus and terrified of putting contact lenses in. do i have any other options?

Accepted Answer

Yes: A surgical procedure called intacs may be an option. The right contact lens though may be the best option. A cornea specialist can review intacs with you and see if you're a candidate.

Question 10

i got keratoconus so gonna do transplant next month is it serious one more thing is it painfull anybody else had done this before ?

Accepted Answer

Keratoconus: Most people with keratoconus do not need a corneal transplant as the keratoconus can be managed with rigid contact lenses.   Severe keratoconus does require a corneal transplant.  This is a very serious thing to have done, but most are successful.  Make sure you understand the amount of effort it will take to get a successful result.

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Doctor answers about:

PRK keratoconus

A member asked:

Hello dr. does the prk surgery cause a keratoconus ?

A member asked:

I (25yo) am interested in prk. mom had lasik done, but my little bro has keratoconus. my doc has never indicated i have kera. is prk safe for me?

A member asked:

How is keratoconus typically treated?

A member asked:

What is the probability of developing keratoconus?

A member asked:

Could lasik lead to keratoconus?

A member asked:

Are there any treatments for keratoconus?

A member asked:

Are there any new treatments for keratoconus?

A member asked:

Corneal collagen cross-linking for keratoconus, what to do?

A member asked:

I have keratoconus and terrified of putting contact lenses in. do i have any other options?

A member asked:

I got keratoconus so gonna do transplant next month is it serious one more thing is it painfull anybody else had done this before ?

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