How is keratitis treated?

The article was professionally consulted by an eye doctor - Department of Examination & Internal Medicine - Vinmec Hai Phong International General Hospital

Keratoconus – Keratoconus is a condition in which the cornea is not spherical but protrudes outward into a cone shape. The incidence of keratoconus is about 1/2000, the disease causes the lower cornea to become dilated and thin. Corneal cones can cause patients to have impaired vision and sensitivity to light. Keratoconus often affects both eyes and usually begins to appear between the ages of 10 and 25. The condition can progress slowly over 10 years or longer.

Symptoms of keratoconus as the disease progresses:
Blurred or distorted vision. Increased sensitivity to light. Myopia progresses more severe and faster. Headache, red eyes, eyestrain.

To confirm the diagnosis, the doctor needs to check the shape of the cornea with several tests.
- The most common method is corneal topography - the technique of taking pictures of the cornea and analyzing it to detect abnormalities. Usually, children whose parents have keratoconus have to have corneal topography every year when the child is 10 years old. Even if the test results are not abnormal, it is still necessary to have the child checked every year so that the disease can be detected in time.
- Along with a comprehensive eye exam, the ophthalmologist will also perform a slit lamp examination, using a special straight biological microscope to examine the cornea. Usually, patients with keratoconus will have wrinkles in their corneas called Vogt's ridges.

Patients need to follow the treatment regimen of the ophthalmologist. If the patient is not treated promptly, it will lead to the risk of corneal scarring that affects vision and vision impairment.
2.1. The method of wearing glasses Treatment of keratoconus depends on the severity of the condition and the progression of the disease. Mild to moderate keratoconus can be treated with eyeglasses or contact lenses.
- Eyeglass frames or soft contact lenses. Soft frames or contact lenses can correct blurred or distorted vision in the early stages of the disease.
- Hard contact lenses . Rigid contact lenses are often used to treat the disease when it has progressed to the next stage. The patient may feel uncomfortable at first when wearing rigid contact lenses. However, these symptoms should go away in a few weeks. This is a type of glasses that can be tailored to fit each person's cornea.
- Synthetic contact lenses. This is a combination of hard glass and soft glass, the inside of the glass is hard and the ring around the outside of the glass will be soft for increased comfort.
- Scleral contact lenses. This type of glasses is suitable for people with the second stage of keratoconus. This type of contact lens is larger than the normal type, when worn, it will encroach on the white part (sclera).
Rigid or scleral contact lenses, available only by prescription from an ophthalmologist. When carrying out the treatment of keratoconus, it is necessary to have regular eye exams to change glasses to suit the development of the disease.

In some people with more severe disease, the cornea is scarred making it difficult to treat the cone with contact lenses. In these cases, your doctor will recommend corneal transplant surgery.
When you have corneal scarring, an excessive corneal bulge, or an inability to wear any type of contact lens may require surgery. Surgical options for keratoconus include: intra-corneal implant placement, corneal transplant.
Placement of the implant in the cornea:
- The doctor places a small, crescent-shaped piece of plastic into the cornea to flatten the cone, support the cornea's shape and improve vision.
- Corneal insertion can restore a normal corneal shape, slow disease progression, and reduce the need for a corneal transplant.
- This is a temporary measure, this surgery carries risks such as: infection and injury to the eye.
Corneal transplant :
- If the patient has corneal scarring or the cornea is extremely thin, a corneal transplant may be needed.
- Corneal endothelial transplant is a partial transplant of the anterior cornea.
- Recovery from corneal transplant surgery can take up to a year and patients need to continue to wear rigid contact lenses.
- Vision can be completely restored a few years after corneal transplant for patients with cone cornea, helping to cure the disease.
- However, this method has complications such as: transplant rejection, vision loss, astigmatism, inability to wear contact lenses and infection.
In addition, scientists are working on a type of corneal pyramidal treatment called collagen crosslinking. This method uses special eye drops and ultraviolet A (UVA) light to strengthen (cross-link) the tissues of the cornea. The treatment is still in the experimental phase and more research is needed before it can be officially introduced.
For most people, the cornea becomes stable after a few years. In this case, the patient probably won't have serious vision problems or need further treatment.
Timely treatment of keratoconus is necessary because keratoconus is a dangerous disease and can have serious consequences. So, if you have any symptoms that suspect a cone-shaped cornea, you should immediately go to the nearest specialized medical facility for the doctor to check and treat.
Vinmec International General Hospital is a high-quality medical facility in Vietnam with a team of highly qualified medical professionals, well-trained, domestic and foreign, and experienced.
A system of modern and advanced medical equipment, possessing many of the best machines in the world, helping to detect many difficult and dangerous diseases in a short time, supporting the diagnosis and treatment of doctors the most effective. The hospital space is designed according to 5-star hotel standards, giving patients comfort, friendliness and peace of mind.