Hettiger Eye Care Center

1205 North Olive Street, Flora, Illinois 62839

618.662.4045

Toll Free: 1-800.438.8793

Keratoconus

What is Keratoconus?

The Cornea is the window of the eyes. Light travels through the cornea past the lens to the retina and then to the brain to form a visual image. The normal corneal surface is smooth and round in the center, flattening towards the outer edges. Light passing through the cornea does so in a smooth non-distorted manner to the retina producing a clear image to the brain.

In patients with keratonconus, the cornea is cone shaped. In addition to the cone the cornea surface is also irregular producing a distored image projected to the brain.

Due to the cone shape and irregular surface patients with keratoconus cannot wear glasses to correct the problem because glasses cannot conform to the shape of the cornea. The best solution for patients with keratoconus is rigid contact lenses that can provide a clear, smooth surface, thereby, allowing light rays to be projected in a smooth path to the retina.

For patients that cannot tolerate rigid lenses there are some excellent exciting options.

Contact us today to schedule an appointment