Freedom from glasses starts here.
Keratoconus is a condition where the cornea – the clear, dome shaped front surface of your eye – gradually thins and bulges outward into a cone. A healthy cornea is spherical in shape, allowing light entering the eye to come into focus, forming a clear image. A cone shaped cornea however, causes blurred vision and may also cause sensitivity to light and glare. Keratoconus usually affects both eyes, although it often affects one eye more than the other.
Keratoconus usually begins to affect people in their teenage years or early twenties. The condition will often progress at varying rates before stabilising in your 30s or 40s.
The exact cause of Keratoconus remains unknown, although it is believed that the predisposition to develop the disease is present at birth. Factors that may increase the risk of developing Keratoconus include:
In the early stages of Keratoconus, vision problems can often be corrected with glasses or soft contact lenses. As the condition progresses and the cornea becomes more irregular, you may have to be fitted with hard contact lenses such as rigid gas permeable contact lenses or scleral lenses. If the Keratoconus progresses to an advanced stage, a corneal transplant may be needed to restore sight.
Corneal collagen cross-linking is the only treatment that helps to slow or stop Keratoconus from progressing. Stabilising the Keratoconus aims to stop worsening of the disease and preserve your vision.
During corneal cross-linking, the cornea is saturated with riboflavin (Vitamin B2) drops and then treated with ultraviolet A light. This causes collagen cross-linking of the cornea, which stiffens the cornea to prevent further shape changes.
Corneal collagen cross-linking helps to reduce the risk of progressive vision loss by stabilising the cornea. The treatment in itself does not reverse Keratoconus or improve vision. In some patients, corneal cross-linking may be combined with a reshaping procedure to help regularise and improve the overall shape of the cornea. Speak to your corneal specialist to find out if you are eligible for this procedure.
You may need a corneal transplant if you have corneal scarring, extreme thinning of your cornea, poor vision with contact lenses or an inability to wear contact lenses. Cornea transplant surgery for Keratoconus is generally very successful, but often glasses and/or hard contact lenses are still required after surgery.
Not every corneal condition needs a transplant. In many cases, there are options that can delay or avoid transplant surgery.
Specialty contact lenses can often provide excellent vision in corneal conditions by masking irregular corneal shape. A transplant is usually considered when lenses no longer provide acceptable vision or comfort, or when scarring and structural changes make the cornea unsuitable for lens correction.
Artificial cornea procedures exist, but they are typically reserved for complex cases and specialised indications. If this is relevant, it is usually discussed as a referral-level option after assessing transplant history and ocular surface health.
We use detailed imaging and eye health assessment to select the most appropriate transplant type and set expectations that match your condition and goals.
Layer-specific transplant techniques can support faster recovery in suitable cases, but monitoring remains essential across all transplant types. Follow-up care focuses on healing, pressure checks, and graft clarity over time.
A corneal graft can last many years, but longevity varies based on the condition being treated, the transplant type, and how the eye responds over time. Regular monitoring is important to keep the graft healthy.
Recovery depends on the transplant type. Endothelial transplants often stabilise sooner, while PK and DALK commonly take months and sometimes longer as healing progresses and sutures influence corneal shape.
Most people experience irritation and light sensitivity rather than severe pain, and discomfort is usually managed with drops and post-op care. Your anaesthetic plan is chosen to keep you comfortable during the procedure.
Yes. In advanced keratoconus, a transplant may be recommended when lenses are no longer effective or scarring has reduced vision. Earlier-stage options like corneal cross linking may help slow progression for suitable patients.
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