1. Keratoconus And specialty contact lens fitting of irregular corneas
Marc L. Braithwaite, OD
Vision Care of Maine
Keratoconus And specialty contact lens fitting of irregular corneas
Thank Elliott and Lee.
Introduction

2. Keratoconus
What have the years taught us?
Lawrence Gallomp

3. Keratoconus Characteristics
Non-inflammatory.
Central or para-central corneal thinning.
Corneal steepening or protrusion.
Increased astigmatism and possibly myopia.
Loss of best spectacle corrected visual acuity.
Corneal striae and scarring.
Corneal hydrops (inflammatory).

4. Pathology of Keratoconus
Loss of Bowman’s Layer.
Stromal Thinning.
Apoptosis.
Increased Enzyme Activity.
Enlarged Prominent Corneal Nerves.
1- Epithelial cells seem to be in direct contact with stroma.
2- In central and/or inferior cones, stroma can be less than ½ that of normal stroma. Epithelium 2-3 cell layers thick.
3- Programmed cell death. Greater apoptosis in the anterior stroma. Repetative injury to epithelium stimulating greater apoptosis.
4- Decreased presence of enzyme inhibitors.

5. Causes of Keratoconus Heredity vs. Mechanical Cellular Tissue Genetic
2 doctors out of 250 still felt that KC was caused by eye rubbing. KC patients may indeed rub their eyes more than most, but maybe there is something about KC that makes them feel like they

6. Heredity vs. Mechanical
Does eye rubbing cause Keratoconus?
2 out of 250 doctors feel that rubbing is a cause.
KC patients do rub their eyes more often than those without KC.
What is it that makes KC patients rub their eyes?

7. Cellular Changes Keratoconus cells are hypersensative.
Increased enzyme activity, lack of enzyme inhibitors.
Matrix substrate instability in response to environmental stress factors.
mtDNA damage and exaggerated oxidative response causing cellular damage.

8. Tissue Changes Loss of Bowman’s layer. Lamellar slippage.
Lack “anchoring” lamellar fibrils.
Apoptosis of the stroma causing anterior thinning.

9. Genetics Autosomal dominant w/variable penetrance.
SOD1, an antioxidant enzyme, is abnormal in some KC corneas.
No single gene responsible.
10 different chromosomes have been associated with KC.
Most likely multiple genes involved.

10. Additional Information
Male to Female Ratio = 3:1
Approximately 20% result in PKP.
90% are diagnosed by optometrists.
Mean age of diagnosis is years.
Visual outcome with RGP is better than PKP.
More prevalent in certain ethnic groups (4x higher in Asians from Indian sub-continent regions than White Europeans).

11. Progression and Prognosis
Age is a big factor.
The younger the diagnosis, the poorer the prognosis.
Less likely to progress to the point of a transplant if diagnosed in the 30’s.
20% of Keratoconus patients result in corneal transplants.
35 to 45% of all transplants are due to Keratoconus.

12. Possible Aggravating Factors
UV exposure.
Allergies.
Vigorous eye rubbing.
Poorly fitting contact lenses.
Inflammation.

13. Types of Keratoconus
Nipple/Oval cone - central or mildly para-central localized thinning and steepening.
Keratoglobus - Large generalized thinning and steepening.
PMD (pellucid marginal degeneration) – peripheral thinning and steepening.
Keratoconus Fruste – Less progressive and less manipulative.

14. Nipple/Oval Cone
Central Steepening
Steepest form

15. Keratoglobus
Wider – 75 to 90% of cornea.
Not as steep.

16. Pellucid Marginal Degeneration
Peripheral Thinning
Difficult for transplantation.

17. Orbscan Analysis

21. How to Treat Keratoconus
Spectacles
Contacts
Soft Standard
Soft Custom
RGP Standard
RGP Custom
Hybrid
Surgery
Intacs
Penetrating Keratoplasty
Riboflavin/UV treatment

22. When to Intervene? Best Spectacle/Soft CL Acuity 20/30 or better?
Good tolerance of acuity.
Corneal health is not compromised.
“If it aint broke, don’t fix it.”
Best Spectacle/Soft CL Acuity worse than 20/30?
Specialized contact lenses.
My opinion, use RGP lenses.

23. Which RGP Design? Early Keratoconus Mid-stage Keratoconus
Standard RGP
KC RGP
Mid-stage Keratoconus
Custom KC RGP
Advanced Keratoconus
Intra-limbal or Scleral RGP

24. My “GO TO” Lens – Rose K Developed by Dr. Paul Rose.
Designed to fit the irregular cornea.
“Very forgiving lens”
Multiple designs to fit all shapes of corneas and corneal conditions.
Blanchard is very good to work with and has staff to assist with very difficult cases.

25. Nipple/Oval Cone Fitting
Most common form of KC.
Early stages - simple RGP or KC RGP
Later stages – KC RGP usually small and steep.
The steeper the cone, the smaller the lens diameter.

26. Rose K2
Rose K vs. Rose K2
72% of patients notice an increase in acuity with aspheric, aberration control.
Lens to be centered on the cone.
Reduce excessive movement (1 to 2mm).

27. Fitting the Rose K2 Too high – tighten edge lift reduce OAD
steepen base curve
Too low – increase edge lift
increase OAD
flatten base curve
Generally works for all types of RGP’s and corneas.

28. Fitting the Rose K2 Centrally fitting the lens on a nipple
cone better insures
optimal acuity and
comfort.
It is recommended that you fit the central base curve first and then make and adjustments to the diameter and edge.

29. Rose K2IC IC stands for irregular cornea Larger diameter
Larger optic zone
Aspheric for aberration control
Reverse geometry design

30. PMD
Keratoglobus
LASIK induced ectasia
Corneal transplants

31. Corneal Dystrophies
Traumatic Corneas with Scars
Post RK
Irregular Astigmatism or Corneal Warpage

32. What is That?

34. Asymmetric Corneal Technology
ACT.

35. ACT – Continued…

36. Fitting with ACT Using ACT ( Asymmetric Corneal Technology)
3 standard grades available
Option also to specify degree of tuck in 0.1 steps from 0.4 to 1.5mm
Grade 3 (1.3mm steeper)
Grade 1 ( 0.7mm steeper)
Grade 2 (1.0mm steeper)

37. Fitting with ACT ACT - Improved comfort , lens stability and vision
NO ACT WITH ACT

38. Toric Peripheral Curves

39. Fitting Pearls Tendency to tighten after initial fitting.
Light central touch will increase acuity.
Avoid central staining.
Movement is necessary but slight movement is usually sufficient.
Pay attention to tear flow beneath lens.
The steeper the lens, the smaller OAD and less movement.
Don’t change too many parameters at once.

40. Penetrating Keratoplasty When to refer?
Acuity is 20/50 or worse.
Patient intolerance to visual decrease.
Scars within the visual axis.
Multiple episodes of Hydrops.
Contact lens intolerance.
Unable to get adequate/healthy CL fit.
Consider OD to OD referral.
Give reasonable expectations.

41. Post PKP Management How soon can you fit with lens?
Why are the curvatures so strange?
Do you have to wait for all sutures to be removed?
Corrective options.
Spectacles
RGP contact lenses.
LASIK

42. Rose K2 Post Graft

43. PKP Topography

44. Rose K2 Post Graft Much more difficult to fit than KC.
Patients are less tolerable to CL.
Eyes are more dry.
Ill-fitting contact lenses can lead to graft rejection.
Lens design is crucial to success.

45. K2PG Fitting Pearls Don’t be intimidated! Watch tear flow!
Also good lens for ectasia patients.
Stay with your fitting basics
Fit base curves.
Adjust diameter.
Adjust peripheral curves.
Use ACT or Toric PC if needed.

46. Post Graft – Too Steep

47. Post Graft – Too Flat

48. Post Graft – Good Fit

49. Watch Vasculature

50. The Difficult Ones Nothing is comfortable. Acuity isn’t improving..
Eyes are too dry. (Sjogren’s Syndrome)
Cornea is too irregular for any lens to fit properly or in a healthy manner.

51. What Do You Do?

52. Mini-Scleral Design - MSD
Large RGP
Vaults the cornea, rests on the sclera.
Creates a fluid filled environment.
Can be used to treat any corneal condition.
Can be used to treat other anterior segment conditions.

53. MSD - Advantages Very Stable lens. Fluid filled environment.
Improved comfort.
Good visual acuity.

54. Mini-Scleral Design

55. MSD – Fitting Pearls Central Feather-touch. Intra-limbal adjustment.
With or without fenestration or fenestrations.
Watch edge for tightening.

56. Practice Management Issues
Setting Fees.
Bill for services performed.
Insurances and fee collection.
Appropriate diagnostic and treatment equipment.
Topography/corneal mapping.
Pachymetry.
Fitting sets.

57. Refractive Surgery Specific
Moderate – Large Diameter
(10.5 mm Standard Diameter, 9.5 mm to 12.0 mm).
Reverse Geometry Transition.
Post Surgical Central BC.
Curves
Paracentral Fitting Curves.
Asymmetric Corneal Technology (ACT).

58. Thank You!