Bulging Corneas Affect 1 in 2,000 Americans Submitted by Atlanta Vision Cataract and Laser Center on June 19, 2017

An estimated 1 in 2,000 Americans suffer from an eye condition called keratoconus. Typically affecting people in their teenage years or early 20s, this condition causes the outer surface of the eye (cornea) to lose its spherical shape and bulge outward into a cone shape due to thinning corneal tissue.

In the early stages, the condition will not be outwardly visible to other people. However, you may still experience visual disruption because light entering the eye will be distorted due to the abnormal corneal shape. This causes the light to land randomly around the retina, leading to blurry vision at all distances.

Treatment for Bulging Corneas

For years the best treatment for patients with serious, advanced stage keratoconus was a corneal transplant. This is also a treatment for people who cannot wear rigid contact lenses due to the condition of their corneas.

Today, keratoconus patients have another option: corneal cross-linking (CXL).

The long-awaited FDA approval of corneal cross-linking is an exciting treatment option that is offered at Atlanta Vision for keratoconus patients in Atlanta. It is not a cure for keratoconus. But the treatment may help to strengthen the cornea so it can hold the proper spherical shape, thereby improving vision. It’s an amazingly simple process: our doctors apply riboflavin vitamin B2 drops to your eyes and then apply a controlled amount of ultraviolet A light to the eyes. New bonds in the collagen fibers of the cornea are created, adding strength so the cornea can better hold the proper shape.

Schedule an eye exam today for yourself or a loved one to learn how having CXL in Atlanta may effectively halt the progression of keratoconus for some patients.