Thin Corneas

[dlwwld]

I was told i have thin corneas and can do the PRK surgery.  What causes thin corneas?  If i don't have the surgery will the thickness of my corneas continue to decrease?

If i have the PRK surgery, how long after the surgery will it be when I can see like I had my contacts in?

[DChareda]

Hello, i went in for a consultation for a LASIK and was rejected because my corneas were too thin. I have had the eye pressure test done before by other doctors and was never told this, so it came as a surprise to me. The doctor told me that it was very thin and that a simple swipe of my hand may one day completely remove my cornea (which obviously instilled a lot of fear in me since I constantly wear and remove eye makeup). Are there any precautions I should take now knowing that I have a thin cornea? And do you suggest any treatments, or suggest to keep my eyes as the are?

[John C Hagan III, MD, FACS, FAAO]

Most corneal/refractive surgeons would not do lasik or other elective corneal refractive surgery on a person with chronic trachoma.

JCH MD

[merdith]

I have corneal thickness about 480 micron and my doctor told me that if i get laisek i would maybe develop keratoconous i don't know what to do because i've chronic trachoma and it's very anoying durong seasons with my weak vision

[John C Hagan III, MD, FACS, FAAO]

The first posting was for THIN corneas. You posted THICK preets128.  So they are not comparable. For my patients I don't recommend intraocular contact lens. I suggest you get a second and third opinion from different refractive surgeon Eye MDs.

JCH MD

[preets128]

I too have thick cornea. My doctor advised me for ICL(Implantable Contact Lens). Is it safe enough. Whatever its drawbacks and long term effects.
Is there any other procedure to correct the vision. I am 26 years old.
Please suggest.

[John C Hagan III, MD, FACS, FAAO]

Just like people come in all sizes and heights, some people have big feet and some small feet.

Thin corneas are the same thing. Some people have thick, most have normal and some have thin.  It's just the way you were born and is a variation of normal. No it will not continue to get thinner.  The amount of surgery that can be done for lasik or PRK varies depending on corneal thinckness. If too thin then if surgery is done the cornea can become unstable (ectasia). For thin corneas its safer to do PRK than LASIK.

After PRK it takes longer for clear vision, varies a lot anywhere from right away to a couple of weeks.

JCH MD