The word Keratoconus comes from the words “kerato” which means cornea and “conus” which means cone. This is a genetically inherited disease that effects the normal form of the corneal structure, which looses it’s stability and bows forward irregularly resulting in a reduction and distortion of vision.

 

 

The Keraring is medically indicated when the disease has reached it’s advanced stages and contact lenses have become intolerable or the corneal shape too irregular to be corrected effectively using contact lenses. The Keraring can halt this progressive bowing out of the cornea and significantly postpone the need for a corneal transplant. The Keraring is an inert material and is tolerated so well by the cornea that there is no risk of rejection. The ring is made out of plastic (Perspex CQ Acrylic) which is the same material used for more than 20 years as artificial lens implants in Cataract and Refractive Lens Exchange surgery.

 

The treatment is pain-free and last around 15 minutes per eye. A tunnel must be prepared for the ring to be inserted into. EuroEyes uses the femtosecond laser ensuring a high level of precision in a process which takes just 6 seconds. Then the ring is then inserted carefully into this tunnel. Although risks of complication are very low, and these complications are generally not severe, there have been rare cases where an infection has occurred. As this treatment is reversible the ring can then be removed allowing the cornea to return to it’s original shape.

 

The eye recovers quickly following treatment, with a notable improvement in vision already after a number of days, and the corneal structure reaching stability after 3 to 6 months. Initial fluctuations in vision during this time is not unusual and any remaining refractive error can be corrected using contact lenses or glasses, resulting often in a marked increase in the quality of vision when compared to before the treatment.

The success of the surgery depends on the degree to which the patient suffers from Keratoconus. The earlier this treatment is untaken the greater the success rate, which can reach 95%.