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Keratoconus and its treatment

Causes   Symptoms   Diagnostics   Treatment    Reviews   Our advantages   Prices

keratoconus treatmentKeratoconus is a genetically determined pathology, the main manifestations of which is the degeneration and thinning of the corneal tissues.

The result of the pathological processes in the tissues of the cornea is a progressively reshaping of the cornea from spherical to conical. These processes are accompanied by a progressive deterioration of vision, not amenable to optical correction with glasses or contact lenses.

Causes of Keratoconus

There is no consensus about the causes of keratoconus for today. The most common hypothesis are hereditary, endocrine, environmental and immunoallergic. Most often the disease develops in the beginning of puberty, reaching a significant clinical stage at 20-30 years.

Symptoms

The main complaints of the patient with keratoconus, in addition to deterioration of vision, double vision, are distortion of the image, photophobia, severe eyestrain, glares and aureoles when looking at the light source, at a late stage of the disease pain might be involved.

Diagnostics of Keratoconus

The initial symptoms of keratoconus (blurred vision, distortion and motion blur) are similar to such pathologies of refraction as myopia and astigmatism. According to the fact that at the beginning of the disease to detect defects of the cornea is necessary to conduct special studies requiring the use of high-precision equipment, patients are often diagnosed myopia or astigmatism, and assigned to the traditional methods of correction (glasses or contact lenses).

There are some indirect signs to suggest the presence of an initial stage of keratoconus, which include:

  • the need to regularly pick up new means of optical correction in conjunction with the progression of existing visual impairments;
  • complaints about the distortion of perception of surrounding objects (blooming), including increasing distortion in the dark;
  • glares and aureoles around points of light in the dark;

To clarify the diagnosis of initial keratoconus modern computerized examination is used, allowing to accurately determine the changes in the corneal tissues, and get the most complete picture of the state of the visual system of the patient. These studies are computer corneal topography, optical coherence tomography of anterior segment eye examination using endothelial microscope and others.

In the later stages of keratoconus diagnostics usually is not difficult, as a characteristic feature - a change of the corneal surface (cone-shaped protrusion of it) - is determined visually.

Treatment of keratoconus

keratoconus surgeryMethods of treatment of keratoconus depend on the stage of the disease, taking into account existing corneal abnormalities. Therapeutic and surgical methods of treatment are applied.

Therapeutic treatment for keratoconus include the use of hard contact lenses and crosslinking. The surgical treatment include implanted stromal corneal rings and corneal transplantation (keratoplasty).

Selection of contact lenses for the correction of keratoconus may be performed only by the attending specialist taking into consideration all the features of the disease in each patient, as well as their tolerance of certain types of contact lenses. Traditionally, for the correction of visual disorders in patients with keratoconus are used rigid gas permeable contact lenses or combined version, which includes the simultaneous use of hard and soft lenses. Strictly speaking, the contact lenses can improve vision in patients, but do not cure of keratoconus.

Crosslinking is a method of treatment aimed at strengthening corneal tissues in order to prevent further progression of the symptoms of keratoconus. During crosslinking procedure on the cornea of the affected eye medicine riboflavin is applied, after which the corneal surface is exposed by the laser. The result is a stimulation of the formation of new collagen fibers, which increases the density of the cornea, prevents thinning and prevents further deformation.

Installation of stromal rings is usually done after a month and a half after the crosslinking procedure. Stromal rings (segments) are made of a biologically inert material (polymethylmethacrylate). During the implantation on the periphery of the cornea a shallow rounded incision is performed into which the corneal ring is placed. After some time (if needed) rings can be replaced, removed or deleted, ie technique is a reversible procedure. Stromal rings allow you to change and stabilize the surface of the cornea, thereby it helps to compensate the existing keratoconus astigmatism and improve the patient's vision, preventing further progression of the disease.

In advanced stages of the keratokonus treatment are applied corneal transplants (keratoplasty). During the operation, the damaged portion of the cornea is replaced by the donor transplant. Depending on the indications, the graft is transplanted into the thickness of the cornea, to full thickness (penetrating keratoplasty), or replace with it the superficial layers of the cornea (epikeratophaky).

The benefits of keratoconus treatment in Moscow Eye Clinic

Using the most modern diagnostic equipment of leading world manufacturers, specialists of our clinic can diagnose keratoconus at the very early stage of the disease, that allows to use more sparing treatment and minimize expenses. After carrying out a detailed diagnostics, the doctor does not only form a complete picture of the visual system state, but also determines the signs to a particular method of treatment, and can predict the outcome.

If there are indications for the cross-linking, the procedure is performed on an outpatient basis in "one day." At the same time on the testimony can be performed laser eye surgery to correct abnormalities of refraction (myopia and astigmatism). Installing stromal rings is also performed on an outpatient basis under local anesthesia. After surgery, each patient receives detailed recommendations list to accelerate the rehabilitation period, the doctor also forms the schedule of further visits for control checkups.

The highest level of theoretical background and extensive practical experience of our specialists ensure the best results of treatment.

In our clinic works Professor Slominsky Alexey Yurievich - one of the most respected experts of the patients with different pathologies of the cornea treatment, a recognized leader in the field of transplantation through the cornea in keratoconus, the author of monographs on keratoconus. Professor Slonimsky Yuri Borisovitch - Member of the Board of the Russian Society of Ophthalmologists. Among fellow ophthalmologists Slonimsky Yuri Borisovitch is a recognized authority in the field of treatment of patients with severe corneal pathology.

The same operations are carried out by the surgeon of the higher category, the chief medical officer of our clinic .Fomenko Natalia Ivanovna, who has successfully carried out more than 12 thousand transactions of different complexity.

Reviews

Видео Keratoconus and its treatment

Translation from Russian: "I have found your clinic via the Internet. I live in Vladivostok and came here to treat keratoconus in my left eye. It’s been almost two weeks since the operation and I feel good, my eyesight is improving. I’m very satisfied with the professionalism of the doctors. The staff is very compassionate. I’m going to be a loyal client of this clinic."

Cost of treatment

The price is determined by the amount of used therapeutic and surgical methods, the need to use general anesthesia, etc. Corneal crosslinking costs 30 000 rubles, implantation of stromal rings - 40 000 + material costs (16 000 rubles. The price of penetrating keratoplasty performance in our clinic is 70 000 rubles per eye, the reconstruction of anterior eye chamber surgery cost can be increased. The biomaterial is charged additionally (the cost is 75 000 rubles).

You can see all prices of dagnostics and treatment of keratoconus and clarify their relevance in the section ""Prices"".

Цена лечения кератоконуса

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