What is the best type of contact lens for someone who has Keratoconus?
While this is a seemingly simple question, it is truly too complex to give a single answer. Just like I can’t answer “what is the type of shoe?” That depends on the size and shape of the foot as well as the intended use of said ’shoe’.
Keratoconus is a degenerative disease of the cornea that leaves the surface of the cornea shaped very irregular. The term keratoconus directly means a cornea (kerato) that is shaped like a cone (conus). A non-keratoconus cornea is either spherical and round or spherically toric (astigmatism). Within keratoconus there are many different classifications we use to address severity and location of the cone. And some cases of keratoconus are not cone shaped at all; pellucid marginal degeneration (pmd) is a form of keratoconus portrayed by an inferior thinning and low buldge of the cornea. (picture a beer belly shape, that’s not very cone like at all)
So to address this, we have many different lenses available. I have put together a brief list and explanation of some of the more commonly used contact lenses for keratoconus.
In general, if you are diagnosed with keratoconus you want to find to find an experienced contact lens fitter, as the average fitter rarely sees kerotoconic corneas. A good fitter will have an area of tools (contact lenses) in his toolbox to asses your corneas and vision then choose the best lens for your particular case. I have KC patients in everything from soft toric lenses to hybrid contact lenses, small 8.0mm gas permeable and 15.0 mm scleral gas permeable designs. When fitting keratoconus, anything goes. Throw the ‘what works best’ textbook out the window and rely on your lens fitters experience and expertise.
ps – for those who don’t have or know about keratoconus; understand that people with this condition usually can not see without their contact lenses. Glasses don’t work and lasik is out of the question.
