Keratoconus
Keratoconus is where the clear front of the eye (the cornea) thins and bulges into a cone shape, blurring vision. It is often managed with contact lenses, and treatments can slow it down. Read more about keratoconus →
If symptoms are sudden, severe or getting worse, contact your GP or NHS 111.
Where are you up to?
The NHS reports waiting times by specialty, not by individual condition, so this is the ophthalmology wait (not specific to keratoconus), updated August 2026. Enter a postcode to see the hospitals near you.
ophthalmology waiting times by hospital
| Trust | Location | Typical wait |
|---|---|---|
| University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust | Birmingham | 2 weeks |
| Dorset County Hospital NHS Foundation Trust | Dorset | 4 weeks |
| The Dudley Group NHS Foundation Trust | Dudley | 5 weeks |
| Surrey and Sussex Healthcare NHS Trust | Reigate and Banstead | 5 weeks |
| Salisbury NHS Foundation Trust | Wiltshire | 6 weeks |
| London North West University Healthcare NHS Trust | Brent | 6 weeks |
| Airedale NHS Foundation Trust | Bradford | 6 weeks |
| Mid Cheshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust | Cheshire East | 7 weeks |
About keratoconus
Keratoconus is where the cornea, the clear front window of the eye, gets thinner and gradually bulges into a cone shape. This bends light unevenly, so vision becomes blurred or distorted and can change often. It usually starts in the teens or twenties and tends to progress slowly over years before settling.
How it is treated
In the early stages, glasses or soft contact lenses can correct the vision. As the cornea changes shape, specially fitted hard or custom contact lenses often give clearer sight. To stop it getting worse, a treatment called corneal cross-linking can strengthen the cornea. If the cornea becomes very thin or scarred, a corneal transplant (replacing the damaged cornea with donor tissue) may be needed.
After treatment
Many people manage well for years with glasses or contact lenses. Cross-linking aims to hold the cornea steady rather than improve sight, so it's about preventing further change. Where a transplant is needed, vision recovers gradually over months, and glasses or lenses are often still used afterwards.
Sources: NHS (Moorfields): Keratoconus. Last updated October 2026.
General information only, not medical advice. Wait or Pay is independent and is not the NHS. Your GP decides what care, if any, you need.