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Treatment Options for Keratoconus

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Close up of individuals eye with keratoconus

Keratoconus can develop subtly and gradually, so it is important to stay on top of your regularly scheduled eye examinations to prevent potential degradation of your vision. In less severe cases, specialty lenses and therapy can be used to mitigate the effects of keratoconus, but if the issue is an advanced case, surgery or a cornea transplant may be necessary.

What is Keratoconus?

Keratoconus is when your cornea (the clear, dome-shaped front surface of your eye) thins and gradually bulges outward into a cone shape. This can cause blurred vision and increased sensitivity to light. Keratoconus usually occurs in both eyes and can affect each of them to different degrees. Keratoconus generally begins to affect people between the ages of 10 and 25.

Preventing Keratoconus

If caught in its early stages, you can potentially treat keratoconus through the use of glasses or soft contact lenses. Later on, if you are still experiencing symptoms of keratoconus, you may have to be fitted with rigid, gas-permeable contact lenses or other types of lenses, such as scleral lenses. If these methods do not help in treating your condition, you may need a cornea transplant.

Symptoms

Some symptoms of Keratoconus are:

Causes

Currently, the cause of Keratoconus is unknown, although genetic and environmental factors could contribute to developing the condition. Around 1 in 10 people with keratoconus also have a parent with the condition.

Complications

Illustration of normal cornea on the left and cornea with keratoconus on the right.

Treatment Options for Keratoconus

Different treatment options are available depending on the severity of your condition. Mild to moderate cases of keratoconus may only require corrective eyeglass or contact lenses, while more advanced cases may necessitate surgery or a cornea transplant.

Lenses 

Therapies 

Surgeries

Some surgical options to treat keratoconus include:

Written by Dr. Megan Baldwin

As a Kansas native (born and raised in Kingman), Dr. Baldwin is thrilled to practice what she loves so close to home. She can’t imagine anything better than to care for her community and build strong ties with new friends and colleagues.

When She’s not in the office caring for her patients, Dr. Baldwin enjoys making memories with her husband, Aaron, and two sweet kids, Parker and Stella! You’ll often find her playing piano, hosting her friends and family in her home, or out for a run. Dr. Baldwin and her husband enjoy traveling to warm places and recently became open-water scuba diver certified!

She chose eye care as her career because Dr. Baldwin has always wanted to help people. The quality of care she provides is incredibly important to her. In an age where doctors spend just a few minutes with their patients, she is proud to give her patients the time and diligence they deserve. More than to simply “see” you, Dr. Baldwin wants to learn more about you and how she can best serve your needs. Your relationship matters.

Dr. Baldwin invites you to make an appointment for yourself or your children, whether you have an eye concern or are simply seeking an updated corrective lens prescription. She will always do her best to provide you the best eye care available anywhere in Wichita.

Professional Associations & Memberships

  • Member, Kansas Optometric Association (KOA)
  • Member, American Optometric Association (AOA)
  • Member, Business Networking International (BNI)

Education

  • Bachelor of Science (chemistry) – Bethel College, 2007
  • Doctor of Optometry – Northeastern State University, Oklahoma College of Optometry, 2011
    • Graduated Magna Cum Laude
    • Member of the Beta Sigma Kappa honor society
    • Presented with “Outstanding Clinician in Ocular Disease” award
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