Keratoconus Treatment in Mumbai
Vinay K Agrawal offers the finest keratoconus treatment in Mumbai. It uses improved technology to detect and manage all stages of keratoconus. He embraces his excellence with over 24 years of experience. His groundbreaking work in ophthalmology has earned him significant recognition. He was awarded the Bell Pharma Award for his outstanding postgraduate research paper and innovative original research.
Furthermore, his studies on keratoconus led to the V.K. Chitnis Oration Award. His knowledge and skill extend beyond research, as he holds the position of Chief Medical Editor for Eye World (India) and Ocular Surface Update Magazines.
Contact Lenses for Keratoconus
Keratoconus can be treated with various contact lens designs. There’s no single “ideal” solution – the best option relies on the particular shape of your cornea. Your doctor will assess your eyes to find a lens that provides a great mix of clear vision, comfort, and enduring eye health.
Aspheric lenses provide a good fit for those with tiny to moderate nipple cones. These lenses have a distinct shape. They’re sharper in the center and gently flatten towards the edges, which matches the profile of a keratoconic cornea. The aim is to either softly rest on the top of the cone or make a bit of clearance while aligning lightly with the flatter outer areas of your cornea. Aspheric lenses can also be a good option for people dealing with presbyopia (age-related vision changes) who also have keratoconus. However, the lens must stay centered for the best possible vision.
Different Stages of Keratoconus
Procedure
The main aim of this treatment is to enhance collagen cross-linking. Strengthening these “knots” helps your cornea stay robust and stay in its proper shape. There are 2 main methods to carry out the cross-linking procedure:- Epithelium-off cross-linking: The upper layer of your cornea (the epithelium) is removed. Then, riboflavin (vitamin B) drops are applied to the exposed cornea. Finally, a dose of UV light activates the riboflavin, making those extra-strong bonds within the cornea.
- Epithelium-on cross-linking: This technique, also known as transepithelial cross-linking, keeps the epithelium intact. The riboflavin solution is applied to this layer, and UV light activates it. While it takes longer for the riboflavin to work through the epithelium, this procedure usually has a lower risk of infection, causes less discomfort, and has a quicker recovery time.
Benefits of Corneal Collagen Cross-Linking
- Gentle and Effective: This treatment is noninvasive, with no incisions or cuts. Its primary purpose is to make your cornea more stable.
- One-Time Procedure: For several people with keratoconus, just a single C3R treatment can make a big impact, providing enduring advantages with minimal risk.
- Enhancing Cornea Shape: C3R can help decrease the cone-like bulge in the cornea, which is a mark of keratoconus. Research has proven that it might flatten the cornea’s curvature over time.
- Slowing Disease Progression: One of the biggest advantages of C3R treatment is that it can halt or slow down the worsening of corneal thinning and bulging.
Why is it required?
In a few severe keratoconus cases, surgery may be the only method to protect the shape of your cornea and bring back your vision. If glasses or contact lenses are not helping you see well enough, lamellar keratoplasty (a type of corneal transplant) may be a good choice. In the past, penetrating keratoplasty (PK) was the only standard treatment for advanced keratoconus. Nonetheless, nowadays, lamellar keratoplasty (LK), especially a method called deep anterior lamellar keratoplasty (DALK), is an ideal alternative to PK.Different types of Lamellar Keratoplasty
This is a type of corneal transplant where only particular layers of the cornea are replaced, leaving the rest untouched. Here’s how the 3 primary techniques vary:- Superficial Anterior Lamellar Keratoplasty (SALK)
- Focus: Detects issues in the top layers of your cornea.
- Depth: Eliminates less than 200 microns of corneal tissue.
- Techniques: Can be completed with a precise cutting tool or a femtosecond laser.
- Sutures? Generally not required.
- Anterior Lamellar Keratoplasty (ALK) / Midstromal ALK
- Focus: Treats issues within the middle layers of your cornea.
- Depth: Eliminates between 200-400 micrometers of corneal tissue.
- Techniques: These might be manual or assisted by a femtosecond laser.
- Sutures? Yes, it is required to protect the new corneal layer.
- Deep Anterior Lamellar Keratoplasty (DALK)
- Focus: Mainly targets deeper corneal issues, often perfect for keratoconus.
- Depth: Eliminates more than 400 microns of corneal tissue but leaves the inner Descemet’s membrane and endothelium intact.
- Techniques: Careful methods like air or viscoelastic injection or manual dissection close to Descemet’s membrane are included.
- Sutures? Yes, it is required for proper healing.
Why Choose DALK?
DALK is preferred as it’s considered faster and more dependable and protects healthy parts of your cornea. This leads to a better visual result after surgery. A dedicated facility like Clear Vision Eye Center is ideal if you’re considering keratoconus treatment in Mumbai or other eye procedures. Their team of qualified eye surgeons uses the upgraded technology for the best results.- Ideal for solid prescriptions: ICLs can manage higher levels of nearsightedness or astigmatism than laser processes might.
- No corneal worries: Unlike LASIK and PRK, you won’t need a specific corneal thickness for ICLs. This makes them great if you have thinner corneas.
- Dry eye friendly: If you are dealing with dry eyes, ICLs can be better than processes that sometimes worsen your dryness.
- Built-in sun protection: ICLs block harmful UV rays from reaching your inner eye, lowering the risk of cataracts.
- Removable if required: One main benefit of ICLs is that the process is reversible if your requirements change in the future.
However, there are a few things to keep in mind:
- Age matters: Currently, ICLs are great for people aged 21 to 45. LASIK has a broader age range.
- Myopia and astigmatism only: Right now, ICLs can’t correct farsightedness (hyperopia).
- Longer recovery: While it is usually painless, complete healing after ICLs takes longer than LASIK, generally around a week.
- Risks and results: While rare, there is a small risk of complications with ICLs, and you may also need glasses or contacts for minor adjustments.
Procedure
Here’s how the ICR implant procedure works:- Numbing your eye: Your surgeon will use numbing eye drops for comfort; there’s no need for general anesthesia.
- Marking the spot: The surgeon marks the center of your cornea as a guide.
- Preparing the cornea: A small cut is made in the cornea, followed by 2 small pockets on each side. These pockets are then widened to make thin tunnels. This can be done with precision tools or a specialized laser.
- Ring placement: The surgeon smoothly inserts the synthetic rings into these tunnels.
Advantages
- Protects your clear vision: The surgery concentrates on the exterior edges of your cornea, protecting your central vision.
- Fast improvement: You’ll notice a positive impact on your eyesight quickly, and the changes can be easily predicted.
- Minimal side effects: This process has a shallow risk of blurry side effects, sometimes seen with other vision correction procedures.
- Flexible solution: If your vision needs to change in the future, the rings can be removed.
- Tackles tricky astigmatism: ICRs excel at correcting irregular astigmatism, which can be challenging to manage with other treatment options.
FAQs
Keratoconus not only affects your eyesight; it can seep into every part of your life. Easy daily tasks like reading, computer work, watching TV, or driving can feel like challenges. The strain and insecurity can cause stress and lower self-confidence, making it difficult to enjoy special moments. Even hobbies or sports you love might feel out of reach. This condition can take a toll on your well-being.
Many people don’t realize how common keratoconus is. It was believed to affect only 1 in 2,000 people in the past, but now it’s closer to 1 in 400. This change is due to improved technology, greater awareness, and the work of optometrists like Dr Vinay K Agrawal, who are passionate about helping people manage this condition.
How your keratoconus is treated relies on its seriousness and whether it’s quickly changing. In general, there are 2 primary goals:
- Slowing the disease: It helps prevent your cornea from changing shape further. This helps protect your vision for the long term.
- Improving your sight: This includes finding methods to help you see clearly, even with the changes caused by keratoconus.
Here are a few common approaches:
- Early stages: Glasses or soft contact lenses may be enough to correct your vision in the starting phase. However, as keratoconus progresses, you may need to change your prescription more frequently.
- Cross-linking: This treatment uses riboflavin drops and UV light to strengthen your cornea, making it more resistant to changing shape.
- Specialized lenses and surgery: If your vision can’t be corrected well enough with glasses or regular contacts, rigid contact lenses are designed for keratoconus.
Your eye doctor is the best person to guide you through these options and create a personalized treatment plan! Book your appointment now!
Catching keratoconus early is crucial, as with many other health conditions. If it’s advancing, Corneal Cross-Linking therapy can be a great option. This treatment provides strength to your cornea, stopping the changes that lead to vision issues. Studies show it has a 98% success rate!
Keratoconus can unluckily worsen over time. Although, there’s hope! CXL or C3R (corneal cross-linking) prevents keratoconus from developing and helps preserve your vision. If you have keratoconus, it’s crucial to see a keratoconus specialist regularly for monitoring. This allows them to track changes in your eyes and identify the best time for treatment.
Keratoconus is a lifelong condition, but specialized contact lenses often help manage it and improve your vision. Although keratoconus persists, a corneal transplant may be required in some rare cases. Regular monitoring with your eye doctor is vital for the best possible result.
Keratoconus doesn’t always lead to pain, but it can cause discomfort. Look out for blurry vision, astigmatism, and changes in your cornea’s shape. A few people may have scarring that makes wearing contact lenses impossible, and in some cases, a corneal transplant may be required. If you have keratoconus and experience eye pain, don’t wait – see a keratoconus specialist immediately!
While keratoconus can affect vision, it rarely causes complete blindness. This condition often begins in adolescence. Initially, it may feel like simple nearsightedness and astigmatism, but it has the potential to advance and cause severe vision distortion.
Tears are essential to moisturize your eyes and reduce discomfort and dryness. However, due to your eyes’ inability to disperse tears throughout your uneven cornea, keratoconus can cause dry eyes.
Keratoconus affects both eyes, but it’s common for one eye to worsen. Most people begin to notice signs in their teens or early twenties.
The cost of can differ on different factors. To get the personalized treatment plan and pricing,keratoconus surgery in Mumbai book an appointment with Dr Vinay K Agrawal, who offers one of the best keratoconus treatments in Mumbai.