What’s New in Keratoconus Treatment?
Moving Beyond Contact Lenses with Dr. Gulani’s Advanced Vision Correction
Understanding Keratoconus: When the Cornea Becomes the Obstacle
Keratoconus is a progressive corneal disease where the cornea weakens, thins, and bulges into a cone shape, severely distorting vision. While specialty contact lenses temporarily mask some of the irregularity, they do nothing to stabilize the cornea or correct the underlying structural damage.
At Gulani Vision Institute, world-renowned eye surgeon Dr. Arun C. Gulani with over 3 decades of success with a global clientele introduces a revolutionary philosophy: “Think Outside the Cone.” This means going beyond temporary fixes and addressing the root cause of the condition through artfully customized surgeries designed not only to restore corneal shape but also to optimize vision for each patient’s unique profession and lifestyle.
The Contact Lens Limitation: Why Advanced Keratoconus Needs Surgery
Scleral lenses, rigid gas permeable (RGP) lenses, and hybrid lenses can help mask the irregular corneal shape, but for advanced keratoconus patients, these lenses often cause:
- Discomfort and intolerance due to corneal thinning.
- Expensive and Frequent remakes as the disease progresses and the corneal shape keeps changing.
- Incomplete vision correction, leaving patients with residual glare, halos, and poor night vision.
Though Dr. Gulani believes these contact lenses have a role to play in Keratoconus, especially those with residual visual deficit after surgery, these contact lenses without surgery attempt are like crutches for a broken leg. The moment patients remove their lenses, they are confronted with disabling vision loss, proving the problem itself has never been solved—just temporarily disguised.
Dr. Gulani’s 3-Tier Approach: Custom Surgery for Every Stage of Keratoconus
Having treating keratoconus cases from around the world—ranging from mild cases to extreme surgical disasters referred by other surgeons—Dr. Gulani developed his 3-category system to guide personalized care:
- Visual Patients: Can still see with glasses but struggle with distortion.
- Structural Patients: Cannot function with glasses and depend on uncomfortable specialty lenses.
- Salvage Patients: Even with custom lenses, their vision is poor, and corneal health is severely compromised.
Each category gets a bespoke surgical blueprint, designed to restore structure, enhance optics, and align with the patient’s career and visual goals.
Visual Patients: Advanced Vision Correction with LazrPlastique® and EVO ICL
For patients who still retain some useful vision with glasses, Dr. Gulani may recommend:
- LazrPlastique®: A no-cut laser sculpting technique that gently reshapes the cornea.
- EVO ICL: An implantable lens placed inside the eye to correct vision without removing corneal tissue.
- Premium Lens Implants: For patients also needing cataract surgery, LenzOplastique® customizes advanced intraocular lenses to optimize post-surgery vision.
These approaches allow patients to return to active lifestyles with clear, stable vision and preserved corneal health.
Structural Patients: Rebuilding Corneal Integrity with Corneoplastique® and Intacs
For patients who cannot function without specialty lenses, Dr. Gulani leverages Corneoplastique®, a technique combining artistic corneal reshaping with functional reconstruction, using:
- Intra-Corneal Implants: Semi-circular corneal inserts like Intacs that flatten the cone and restore a more regular shape.
- Cross-Linking (CXL): A strengthening procedure that stiffens the cornea to prevent further progression.
- Staged Procedures: Combining Intacs with LazrPlastique® or EVO ICL or LenzOplastique® for both structural support and visual correction.
Salvage Patients: Advanced Transplants with Cosmetic Precision
For patients with severe scarring, extreme thinning, or failed prior surgeries, Dr. Gulani employs his unique Differential Lamellar Corneal Transplant technique. Instead of a full corneal transplant, which is invasive and can trigger significant complications, he selectively replaces only the damaged layers—preserving the patient’s healthy tissue.
Even in transplant cases, Dr. Gulani incorporates cosmetic and refractive artistry to enhance both the appearance and functionality of the new cornea.
Preparing for Surgery: Personalized Planning for Every Patient
At Gulani Vision Institute, every keratoconus treatment and case is treated like a fingerprint—unique and personal. Preparation includes:
- Advanced Imaging: Corneal topography, tomography, and high-resolution scans.
- Lifestyle Integration: Is the patient a surgeon? Pilot? Firefighter? Dr. Gulani tailors’ surgery to meet occupational demands.
- Pre-Surgical Education: Patients are fully informed, understand their guarded prognosis, and empowered ahead of surgery.
Life After Surgery: Returning to Demanding Professions
Dr. Gulani’s patients don’t just regain vision—they reclaim their careers and passions. Pilots return to the cockpit, firefighters resume saving lives, surgeons confidently perform delicate procedures, and athletes step back into the game.
Recently, a firefighter who underwent Dr. Gulani’s advanced keratoconus surgery sent an emotional photo—helmet on, vision crystal clear—proudly back on duty. These stories flood into the institute from patients worldwide, thrilled to have functional, stable vision that allows them to excel in demanding roles.
This real-world proof showcases not only the effectiveness of Dr. Gulani’s surgical techniques, but also his commitment to making every patient’s vision fit their unique life goals.
Post-Surgery Care: Ongoing Support for Lifelong Clarity
Recovery and rehabilitation are personalized keratoconus treatment for every patient, factoring in their healing speed, occupational vision needs, and future goals. This includes:
- Custom Recovery Protocols: Based on individual healing tendencies and corneal complexity.
- Rehabilitation Lenses (If Needed): For structural or salvage patients, specialty lenses with their optometrists may still play a role—but now they rest on a stable, corrected foundation.
- Global Follow-Up: Out-of-state and international patients work with their local doctors while remaining under Dr. Gulani’s expert guidance.
Choosing the Right Surgeon: Ask the Critical Questions
Keratoconus surgery is not just about technology, it’s about the surgeon’s experience, artistry, and commitment to personalization. Do you tailor surgical plans for professional demands like pilots, surgeons, and athletes?
Dr. Gulani’s answers speak for themselves. With a global reputation spanning over 30 years, with thousands of patients, and a gallery of patients proudly living their dreams, he sets the gold standard for personalized care.
From Cone to Clarity: A Future Without Limits
For keratoconus patients who were once told “nothing more can be done,” Dr. Gulani offers a bold new reality—a future where vision isn’t just corrected but designed for each patient’s unique eyes, career, and lifestyle.
If you’re ready to break free from contact lens dependency and reclaim the clarity to live your best life—whether in a cockpit, an operating room, or on the frontlines—Dr. Gulani is ready to design your vision masterpiece.
Schedule your personalized consultation at Gulani Vision Institute today—and step into your future with clear, confident vision.