Conditions Treated at Empire Eye Physicians

Keratoconus (KC) is a condition associated with thinning and distortion of the cornea, which is the front clear surface of the eye. As the cornea becomes too thin in keratoconus, the surface of the cornea becomes uneven, and vision may become blurry. This is a condition that generally affects both eyes, but one may be more severely distorted than the other.

Keratoconus occurs in approximately 50-200 of every 100,000 people. Keratoconus may be genetic, an isolated condition, or associated with other eye conditions or general health problems including aniridia, retinitis pigmentosa, Down syndrome, and Marfan syndrome. Keratoconus typically first appears in individuals who are in their late teens or early twenties, and may progress for 10-20 years, and then slow or stabilize.

In the early stages, people might experience slight blurring of vision, distortion of vision, and/or increased sensitivity to light. Patients who wear contact lenses may find that their contacts do not work well and do not seem to fit properly. Vision may also appear blurred with glasses. Over time, progressive thinning of the cornea may lead to blurred vision that cannot be corrected by contact lenses or glasses.

At Empire Eye, we offer surgical treatments for keratoconus, which include Corneal Cross-Linking (CXL) and Corneal Transplants.