Keratoconus: current surgical options

The treatment of keratoconus is in part dependant on the severity of the disease process. When contact lenses fail because of patient intolerance or insufficient acuity to meet the patients needs, penetrating keratoplasty is the usual surgical modality considered for satisfactory visual rehabilitation. Keratoconus is considered to be a contraindication for incisional refractive surgery such as radial keratotomies or LASIK because of the corneal instability conferred by these procedures. When the cornea is transparent, INTACS implantation is a refractive modality that may improve visual function and in some instances prevent the need for corneal transplantation in select patients with keratoconus.