What is Keratoconus?
Keratoconus causes the front part of the eye, the cornea, to bulge forward causing distortion and difficulty with vision. Patients complain about:
While the reasons are unknown, there are good treatment options. Some reasons may include:
- Glare
- Distortion
- Poor nighttime vision
- Difficulty with glasses and regular contacts.
While the reasons are unknown, there are good treatment options. Some reasons may include:
- Excessive eye rubbing
- Continual eye inflammation
- Age (usually teenage years to 30s)
- Genetics
From Dr. Tahir:
Our patients shows significant keratoconus. We can see how the cornea, the front clear part of the eye is bulging forward causing distortion in vision, increased glare and poor overall vision. This picture was taken in our office highlighting the cross section of the cornea.
Glasses are not a great option for any keratoconus patient. Scleral contact lenses or similar, fitted properly are one of the best options for clear comfortable vision.
Our patients shows significant keratoconus. We can see how the cornea, the front clear part of the eye is bulging forward causing distortion in vision, increased glare and poor overall vision. This picture was taken in our office highlighting the cross section of the cornea.
Glasses are not a great option for any keratoconus patient. Scleral contact lenses or similar, fitted properly are one of the best options for clear comfortable vision.
How to Diagnose?
Keratoconus can be hard to diagnose and treat due to its difficult nature. Many patients find frustration as they seek care, getting new glasses (or contacts), but never actually seeing better. The glare, halos and vision never seem to be quite right. Advanced corneal imagining and scanners, available at our office, help us to determine early keratoconus and treatment options. Dr. Tahir prides himself in fitting hard to fit corneas like keratoconus giving every patient the best vision and comfort possible.

We can see with this specialized scan, budging of the cornea in the lower sections. The left eye is much worse than the right eye. This patient notes great difficulty with vision, significant glare and halos especially with nighttime driving. Scleral Contact Lenses fitted through out office have giving this patient excellent vision and the ability to get back to daily living.
What are My Options?
- Scleral RGPs (Best option)
- Hybrid Contacts (SynergEyes CK lens, Ultra Health, excellent option)
- Soft Specialty Lens (NovaKone)
- Cross Linking (Paired with Scleral RGPs)
- Corneal transplant (As needed)
- Corneal Intacts (Possibility - but older technology)
- Piggybacking two contacts (soft and hard - works well but older idea)
- Eyeglasses (Usually only as a back up as they can't correct the issues of keratoconus)
- LASIK (not an option due to the nature of keratoconus)

Treatment with Specialty Contacts
Dr. Tahir has fitted many patients with specialty contact lenses to combat the effects of keratoconus. These include Scleral RGP contacts as well as other lens as SynergEyes ClearKone, or UltraHealth. These specialty contact lenses are able to clear and cover the cone allowing for a smooth front surface providing good vision, decreased halo and glare.
Payment Options
Keratoconus is a medical condition and many times your major medical insurance will cover the tests and lenses involved. Many vision insurances such as VSP and EyeMed also have allotments for "medical nessary contact lenses" making them very affordable.
We also offer Care Credit, 6 month no interest financing, right through our office making clear comfortable vision a reality.
Give us a call and we can check your vision or medical insurance for you. 815-744-3222
We also offer Care Credit, 6 month no interest financing, right through our office making clear comfortable vision a reality.
Give us a call and we can check your vision or medical insurance for you. 815-744-3222
- Keratoconus
- Hard to Fit Eyes
- High Prescriptions
- Dry Eyes
- Irregular Corneas
- Sjogren's Syndrome
Billable to Insurance
Many vision and medical insurance cover medically necessary contact lenses depending on your condition. |
Sharper Vision
GP (Gas Permeable) lens offer the sharpest vision of any contact lenses and are available in a variety of prescriptions. |
Comfortable - Easy Handling
Easy to insert and remove. Scleral lens comfort lasts throughout they day and provide sharp vision. |
Low Complications
Only FDA therapeutic device available to reduce inflammation and promote healing of the cornea. |