UK Keratoconus Self-Help and Support Association

Hi All,

I am 25,working in IT.
I have KC to my right eye since 3 years. Have been using RGP lens but now vision is blur even with contact lens.
Consulted optician last week and he said:
1. RGP lens will damage the cornea surface if i continue to use and also RGP lens were not fitting properly
2. Prescribed me Rose K lens which is giving better vision and CXL treatment to stop KC progression

My thoughts:
1. I do not want to undergo CXL treatment as it involves some risks and my cornea thickness is 370 microns (<400)
2. I want to try Rose K lens for better vision for some years and want to test my luck whether KC is progressing or not.
3. I did not used the contact lens often, may be because of that there is progress in KC.

Assumptions:
I saw in one article stating that "Cornea thickness will become stable after reaching 30 years. IS this true?

Doubts:

1. Does the KC progression continues if I go with Rose K lens?
2. Should I go with CXL treatment?
3. Also, when i put on contact lens for continuously for 4-5 days, 8 hrs each, I noticed better vision after put off the lens. why?
4. Any thing wrong in my thoughts

Please clarify my doubts.
Thanks in Advance

Hi Jaswanth and welcome to the forum.
Rose K lenses are gentler on the eye than the standard rgp, so it's good you're also getting better vision with it. Contact lenses don't stop the progression of KC, just give good vision when you're wearing them. Most people do find that their KC stabilises eventually though at what age that happens varies from person to person. In the talks that we've had over the years from various corneal specialists, the medical view seems to be that the cornea usually starts aging and therefore becoming more rigid around the age of 40. But for some people their KC will stabilise before that and for a few it will continue to progress in their 40's. So I'm afraid there isn't one magic answer.
CXL is the only treatment designed to stop progression, but of course only you can decide whether to have it done. At 375 microns, your cornea is below the usual 400 cutoff for CXL, though as you were probably told, it is possible to do the treatment below 400 thickness by temporarily thickening the cornea - sorry I can't remember the details of the procedure, but I'm sure someone else will remind us.
I hope some of that helps.

Hi Jaswanth,

Here is some general advice with the usual disclaimers that I am not a doctor, but merely a KC patient.

I would definitely go for a cxl consult (and a 2nd or 3rd opinion) to hear your options. From what I recall, cxl is less proven when the cornea is thinner than 400 microns, but some doctors will apply drops to swell the cornea to above 400 microns before applying the riboflavin drops. Although your circumstances are not a slam dunk for cxl, I would hear the pros/cons as the procedure may save further progression and potentially a transplant.

I would also note that using the rose-k lenses will only help correct your vision, but will not halt progression. In fact, poorly fit lenses could cause abrasions and warpage, so proper fitting is imperative

Finally, progression is supposed to slow or stop with age, but 35 - 40 y/o has been the age relayed to me. As you are 25, I wouldn't rely on nature and see if cxl can be done