Posted on: 04/12/17

Keratoconus Surgery

Keratoconus Denver

Our eyes are amazing, complex organs. When everything is properly aligned and functioning as it should, we experience clear, crisp vision. If something is amiss, however, our clear vision can be disrupted.

One condition that can disturb our eyes’ ability to focus clearly on the world is called keratoconus.

Bulging Cornea

Our eyes have a clear, dome-shaped “windshield” surface covering the iris and pupil – the colored part and the dark circle in the center. If this dome-shaped front cover thins, the cornea can bulge outward like an inverted cone.

This bulging, which causes blurred vision, along with a possible sensitivity to light and glare, is keratoconus, pronounced ker-uh-toe-KOH-nus.

Symptoms of Keratoconus

Thinning and bulging corneas usually affect both eyes and progresses slowly over a long period, as much as 10 years or longer. You may experience different vision in each of your eyes.

In the early stages, the symptoms may include a mild distortion of your vision, such as straight lines looking bent or wavy. Or you may have a general blurring of your vision. You may experience eye redness, swelling, and an increased sensitivity to light and glare.

As the disease progresses, you’ll notice your vision becoming increasingly blurry and distorted. You may experience increased nearsightedness or astigmatism. Both conditions mean you may find yourself needing new eyeglass prescriptions frequently. You may also no longer be able to wear contacts, finding that they don’t fit properly, fall out or are uncomfortable.

In rare cases, keratoconus can occur quickly. The cornea may swell rapidly and result in scarring.

Treatments for Keratoconus

Left untreated, keratoconus can advance to the point of legal blindness, although few people go completely blind. Thankfully, there are two primary treatments, corneal transplant and DSEK (Descemet’s Stripping Endothelial Keratoplasty), available for this disease.  

Dr. Paul E. Cutarelli at Cutarelli Vision is a nationally recognized board-certified eye surgeon that specializing in LASIK surgery, corneal transplant, and cataract removal. Dr. Cutarelli trained at the world-renowned John Hopkins Hospital. He obtained further training in refractive surgery through a fellowship at Hunkeler Eye Center in Kansas City, Missouri. He also completed a fellowship at Morrfield’s Eye Hospital in London, United Kingdom, in anterior segment surgery and ocular disease.

Cutarelli Vision offers care and treatment for myriad ophthalmic disorders. Among the wide range of services are:

  • Cataract treatment and surgery
  • LASIK laser vision correction
  • Keratoconus treatment
  • Cornea treatment
  • Premium lens implants

Cutarelli Vision has two convenient locations in Denver and Fort Collins (only 45 minutes from Cheyenne, Wyoming.) Make your appointment online here.