| Keratoconus | Intacs for Keratoconus | Conductive Keratoplasty (CK) for Keratoconus
Keratoconus is a degenerative non-inflammatory disorder of the eye in which structual changes within the cornea cause it to thin and change to a more conical shape than its normal even curve. Keratoconus can cause substantial distortion of the vision, with multiple images, streaking and sensitivity to light all often reported by the patient. Though frequently thought of as a rare condition, keratoconus is the most common dystrophy of the cornea, affecting around one person in a thousand, and seems to occur equally in all ethnic groups worldwide. It is typically diagnosed in the patient's adolescent years and attains its mose severe state in the twenties and thirties.
Keratoconus is a little-understood disease with an uncertain cause, and the course of its progression following diagnosis is unpredictable. The associated deterioration in vision, if in both eyes, can affect the person's ability, for example, to drive a car legally. It does not, however, lead to blindness, and in most cases, corrective lenses are effective enough to allow the patient to continue to drive and likewise function normally. Further progression of the disease may lead to a need for surgery. A condition called post-LASIK ectasia (PLE) is a rare occurrence after LASIK which is treated the same as keratoconus.
Roholt Vision Institute specializes in treatment of keratoconus. Dr.'s Mathie and Roncone perform contact lens fits for difficult keratoconus cases. In the event that contact lenses are not effective Dr. Roholt can perform corrective surgery.
Intacs are clear, thin prescription inserts placed in the periphery of the cornea (under the surface) by an ophthalmologist during a brief outpatient procedure. Intacs for the treatment of keratoconus is an FDA approved procedure.
Intacs reshape the curvature of the cornea from within, enhancing the natural shape of the eye to correct mild nearsightedness. Because no tissue is removed, natural optics are enhanced and adds to the structural integrity of the cornea.
A curved glide creates a channel in the periphery of the cornea by gently separating the tissue layers. Tiny plastic segments (Intacs) are placed in the channel much like placing a pencil in between the pages of a book. This causes the cornea to flatten which help to achieve more clear vision.
In keratoconus, the Intacs will usually imporve the uncorrected vision, and/or allow resumption of contact lens. The procedure is less invasive than corneal transplantation, and may delay progression of keratoconus. The Intacs are removable.
Not everyone with keratoconus will be a candidate for the Intacs procedure. Dr. Roholt was the first in Ohio to implant Intacs and the first to use this device for keratoconus and post-LASIK keratoconus ectasia. For his out-of-town patients, Dr. Roholt can review chart notes ahead of time to make a preliminiary determination as to whether Intacs may be beneficial. For more information see www.intacsforkeratoconus.com
Conductive Keratoplasty (CK) for Keratoconus
Roholt Vision Institute was the first eye center in Ohio to perform CK for keratoconus. CK utilizes localized radio-frequency energy to gently reshape the cornea. This simple, non-laser procedure, requires no tissue removal. The FDA approved CK for treatment of hyperopia to increase corneal curvature, but Dr. Roholt was one of the first to realize that this modality could be used to help keratoconus patients by increasing the curvature in flat regiions of the cornea. By applying CK along with Intacs, a patient may be able to go back to successful contact lens or spectacle wear.
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