Special Care for Your Corneas

At Bettner Vision, our Keratoconus and Scleral Lens Institute (KSLI) specializes in diagnosing and treating patients with keratoconus: a progressive condition that thins out the cornea, resulting in a bulged, cone-shaped corneal surface.

Using the latest modern technologies, our team of eye care professionals will accurately diagnose your keratoconus and develop a treatment plan customized for you.

Our institute is one of only three such clinics in the entire state of Colorado, making us a keratoconus and scleral lens authority. For more information or to schedule a consultation, contact Bettner Vision today.

Causes of Keratoconus

Symptoms of keratoconus typically start to appear in the teenage years and young adulthood. Studies are inconclusive as to why young people develop keratoconus, but research shows that genetics may play a significant role.

Once keratoconus is detected, it may develop and progress more rapidly in people with down syndrome, Ehlers-Danlos syndrome, and retinitis pigmentosa.

Symptoms of Keratoconus

You should contact our specialists immediately if you notice any of the following symptoms:

Blurry vision
Straight lines looking bent
Light sensitivity
Red eyes
Swelling in the eyes
Inability to wear contact lenses comfortably
Increased nearsightedness
Dizziness or headaches

Scleral Lenses for Keratoconus

Because patients with keratoconus have a thin, cone-shaped cornea, scleral lenses are often an excellent solution.

By design, scleral lenses are much larger in diameter and more stable than traditional contact lenses. This oversized construction allows the edge of the lenses to rest on the sclera (white section of the eye) rather than on the cornea itself.

Other Scleral Lens Uses

In addition to fitting scleral contacts for patients with blurry, distorted vision due to keratoconus, we use them to treat a range of other eye conditions, such as dry eye, presbyopia, astigmatism, and to protect eyes that have recently undergone a corneal transplant.

Dry Eye

In some cases, scleral lenses can help alleviate the symptoms of dry eye. Because they vault over the cornea, scleral lenses create space between the surface of the cornea and the lens, creating a reservoir. This helps prevent moisture from evaporating, keeping the eye hydrated longer.

Corneal Astigmatism

Corneal astigmatism is a refractive error caused by an irregularly-shaped cornea that is typically treated with glasses or contact lenses. Because the cornea is curved, it can make traditional contact lenses rotate, causing discomfort and fluctuations in vision for patients with astigmatism.

Since scleral lenses are more stable on the eye, they can be a good solution for patients with corneal astigmatism.

Post-Laser Eye Surgery

Some patients who undergo laser eye surgery may experience post-surgery ectasia, a condition that causes the cornea to distort, weaken, or bulge.

In these cases, scleral lenses have been proven helpful. Because scleral lenses sit over the cornea, the cornea’s sensitive surface is protected. This can help prevent any corneal irregularity from worsening.