Contact lenses can be used to correct astigmatism and mild near-sightedness that can occur as secondary issues to keratoconus, at least in the early stages. The traditional treatments for keratoconus include:
Hard or rigid contact lenses for keratoconus have been a go-to solution for doctors trying to correct vision. While they can be a little uncomfortable at first for new users, your eyes will adjust.
SynergEyes hybrid contact lenses are fairly new to the market. They are a unique combination of hard and soft lenses, with a rigid center and soft edges. They were made to be a bit more comfortable for those who couldn’t tolerate hard lenses while giving eyes the support they need.
Soft contact lenses or eyeglasses are always an option, but they usually require you to update your prescription regularly to keep up with the changing shape of your cornea.
Because patients often struggle with hard, gas permeable lenses, your doctor may suggest that you "piggyback" lenses, that is, wear a soft lens on your eye, with a hard lens on top for added support.
Scleral lenses are used by people who cannot tolerate hard lenses at all. Instead, these lenses arched so that the edges rest on the whites of your eye and the top arcs over your cornea without touching it.
Surgical Interventions
Ultimately, some form of surgery may become necessary if the cornea progresses in its shape-changing until it is so steep that contacts cannot be tolerated at all. With keratoconus, however, you are not a suitable candidate for LASIK surgery. You have several other options that include:
INTACS are described as arc-like and plastic. These pieces are inserted into the center of the cornea to flatten it, thereby making the eye more contact lens-tolerant.
Collagen crosslinking (CXL) with UVA is a complex surgery that involves removing the topmost layer of your cornea, adding vitamin drops and then exposing the eye to a special UV lamp that helps the cornea fibers multiply, strengthening the cornea. Full recovery can take several months.
Corneal transplant surgery is the last resort for most doctors. As the name suggests, your cornea would be removed and replaced with a healthy, normal-shaped cornea. This surgery has a long recovery time, a year or more in some cases, before you start seeing better.