Hydrops typically results in corneal scarring. The cloudy vision should improve over time. The condition will clear over a period of several weeks to months. When it occurs, the cornea becomes acutely swollen and opaque (cloudy/white). Fluid then enters the cornea from within the eye. It is caused by a fissure or split within the internal layers of the cornea. Hydrops is a rare complication of keratocunus, generally occurring in advanced keratoconus. Every year, new materials and technologies are appearing to make it easier for the keratoconus patient to be fit so as to allow better vision and comfort while maintaining ocular health. To sum up, everything should be done to avoid a corneal transplant. The fitting of a contact lens on a transplanted cornea can be even more challenging than on a keratoconic cornea. The great majority of the post-corneal transplant patients who I have seen over the years have had irregularly curved corneas which required the use to special gas permeable contact lenses to restore useful vision. In addition, the long term use of anti-inflammatory drugs used after this surgery can have undesirable side effects. Infection and/or rejection of the graft can occur. I have seen many keratoconus patients over a 30 year period have virtually little or no change in the status of their corneas.Ĭorneal transplant surgery is not without risk. Please understand that for the overwhelming majority of keratoconus patients, the active progressive stage of this disease seldom exceeds 5 years. This has allowed the overwhelming majority of keratoconus (ectasia, pellucid marginal degeneration) patients to wear these specialty lenses safely, comfortably and with good to excellent vision for almost all of their waking hours. There have been many new advances in contact/scleral lens technology. Many keratoconus patients fear that their keratoconus will keep on progressing causing further vision loss or ultimately corneal transplant surgery. Vision Loss and Corneal Transplant Surgery The great majority of patients are able to wear their scleral lenses almost all of their waking hours without problems. These lenses are almost always very comfortable and the vision provided by them is extremely good. This liquid acts as a buffer and protects the compromised corneal tissue.
A special liquid fills the space between the back surface of the lens and the front surface of the cornea. Scleral lenses vault the entire cornea and are supported by the white portion of the eye (the sclera). Very often, even the larger lenses will not work and we are forced to use a gas permeable scleral lens.
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