Keratoconus Optometrists Newcastle
Keratoconus is a progressive condition where the cornea (the "clear, dome-shaped front window") of the eye becomes thinner and stretches into a cone shape, causing blurred vision. Keratoconus often first appears in the teens or twenties. The cause is not fully understood but it does appear to be associated with allergies and excessive eye-rubbing.
In the early stages, glasses and/or soft contact lenses can provide good vision. Corneal cross-linking is a surgical procedure that can help to slow down progression. However as the keratoconus progresses the only way to provide clear vision is by using a Rigid Gas Permeable (RGP) contact lens, designed especially for keratoconus. If this is unsuccessful, a ultimately corneal graft (transplant) may need to be considered. However, many keratoconus patients achieve good vision for many years with RGP contact lenses, without needing a corneal graft.
Only a very few optometrists in Newcastle have a corneal topographer, which provides a very detailed "contour map" of the cornea necessary for accurate keratoconus RGP contact lens fitting. At Marketown Optical / Willson Optometrists we have just taken delivery of our brand new Medmont E300 topographer, probably the most accurate model on the market today. Corneal topography allows for a more accurately fitted RGP contact lens than ever before, meaning greater comfort and better vision. This also applies to RGP contact lens fittings for other reasons besides keratoconus, for example astigmatism or dry eye.
