Our Western Suburbs practice has moved! 135 Windsor Street, Richmond, NSW 2753. We look forward to welcoming you to our state-of-the-art facility.
  • Want better vision?Do you have cataracts and need a custom solution?
    Have you had cataract surgery and want better
    vision or freedom from glasses?

  • Dr Alison ChiuA highly experienced ophthalmologist and specialist refractive and cataract surgeon

  • Freedom of Vision
    Fully Trained Specialist

  • Improve Your VisionCataract Removal

  • Improving Eye FunctionWith Precision Laser Treatments

  • Regain ClarityFully Trained Specialist

  • New Hope for Low VisionImprove your quality of life

  • Glasses fogging up?Reserve your laser eye surgery booking now and transform your life

Keratoconus

Keratoconus is a condition in which the normal clear and dome-shaped cornea becomes thin and bulges outward to form a cone shape. The cornea plays an important role in refracting and focusing rays of light for clear vision; hence, an altered shape disrupts the function and distorts normal vision. Keratoconus usually affects both eyes, and can either develop suddenly or progress slowly over several years. It can manifest anytime; from childhood, most commonly up to the age of about 40 years.

What causes keratoconus?

Keratoconus is caused due to the weakening of collagen fibres, which make up the cornea. This condition can be passed on from one generation to the next. Vigorous rubbing of eyes, conditions such as keratoconjunctivitis (inflammation of outer layers of the eye), retinopathy of prematurity (abnormal blood vessels in the retina), and retinitis pigmentosa (degeneration of retina), wearing poorly fitting contact lenses for several years, and systemic diseases such as Downs syndrome may also be associated keratoconus.

What are the symptoms, diagnosis and treatment?

The signs and symptoms of keratoconus vary with the progression of the disease. Early symptoms include blurring of vision. Halos (rings seen around lights) and glare, and night vision problems may develop over time. You may also experience sudden clouding of vision. When you present with any of these symptoms, Dr Chiu and her staff will review your medical history, conduct an eye examination, and order diagnostic tests to measure the corneal curve to evaluate the projection and shape of your eyes. Dr Chiu will suggest appropriate treatment options based on the severity and progression of the keratoconus.

Varying treatment options are available to firstly, prevent the progression of keratoconus changes, and secondly, to correct the vision.

Affiliations

  • The Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Opthalmologists
  • AUSCRS
  • Australian Society of Opthalmologists
  • envision eye centre
  • The University of Sydney
  • UNSW
  • NSW Health
  • University of Cambridge
  • UCL
  • Harvard University
  • Sydney Eye Hospital
  • St Vincents Hospital
  • Kinghorn Cancer Centre
  • AMA
  • AHPRA
  • Sydney Surgical Centre