The Cornea and Laser Eye Institute – Hersh Vision Group dedicated its subspecialty CLEI Center for Keratoconus in 2002. The goal of the Center is to provide the keratoconus patient with expert state-of-the-art diagnostic, therapeutic, and surgical services covering all aspects of keratoconic care. With doctors and surgeons expert in corneal disease, specialty contact lens fittings, and the full range of innovative corneal and refractive surgery procedures for the treatment of keratoconus, our patients can trust that their examination will fully assess their problem and that the best treatment options will be made available. With a full-time clinical research director, the CLEI Center for Keratoconus is also at the forefront of research and innovation in keratoconus treatment. We participate in a number of research studies and clinical trials designed to afford the KC patient the most up-to-date and advanced care available.
The CLEI Center for Keratoconus is directed by Peter S. Hersh, M.D., the medical monitor and lead author of the study leading to FDA approval of corneal crosslinking for keratoconus. He is a graduate of Princeton University, Johns Hopkins Medical School, and Harvard Medical School's ophthalmology residency and corneal surgery fellowship programs. With Dr. Hersh and our experienced keratoconus team, the CLEI Center for Keratoconus offers patients access to many years of experience and the most advanced techniques, technologies, and research. In fact, the CLEI Center for Keratoconus is one of the very few practices in the U.S. to dedicate itself to the complete care of the keratoconus patient.
Located in our state-of-the-art facility in New Jersey, and conveniently located near Newark Liberty International Airport serving NJ and NY, our specially trained staff is dedicated to providing you with the highest quality care. At CLEI, we give our patients the four elements most important in choosing your care – the best education and training, unsurpassed depth and breadth of experience, the most advanced technology, and focused dedication to the field … this is all we do. Our goal is to obtain the best possible evaluation and visual outcome in our keratoconus patients, whether by contact lens management, a variety of surgical treatments, or corneal transplantation techniques.
At the CLEI Center for Keratoconus, we have a staff of highly skilled doctors, as well as world renown corneal surgeons, highly trained ophthalmic technicians, and a resident staff. Our equipment comprises all contemporary technologies for corneal evaluation including a number of computerized corneal topographers (corneal mapping devices) as well as the newest state-of-the-art keratoconus diagnostic and assessment devices (such as the Pentacam corneal mapping unit, topolyzer corneal topography, the Ocular Response Analyzer to measure corneal biomechanics), ocular coherence tomography (OCT), and wavefront analysis units. We also have a complete and comprehensive array of keratoconic contact lenses and all newest state-of-the-art developments including the latest scleral contact lens innovations.
While in past years it was common practice to transplant corneas with keratoconus, this is no longer the case in many patients. Using highly evolved keratoconus contact lenses and specialized fitting techniques, we have found that a majority of KC sufferers can have their vision markedly improved. Other surgical techniques, such as Intacs, topography-guided PRK, and CK, are able to restore contact lens tolerance in many patients and can also improve glasses corrected vision in some. New laser assisted corneal transplantation procedures (IEK, FLAPK) can improve recovery and visual outcomes. Finally, new treatments and innovations, such as corneal collagen crosslinking (CXL), are available with the main goal of stopping progression of keratoconus. CXL can be performed with other procedures, such as Intacs or Topography-Guided PRK (TG-PRK) in order to stop progression and assist with vision.
At The CLEI Center for Keratoconus, Dr. John Gelles is the director of the specialty contact lens division. His clinical work is dedicated exclusively to specialty contact lenses with a primary focus on keratoconus, corneal ectasia, and other corneal and ocular surface diseases. Dr. Gelles has a high success rate using the latest contact lens modalities available. Some options include specialty soft lenses, rigid gas permeable, hybrid lenses, scleral and mini scleral, as well as the EyePrintPRO device. Lens modifications can be made to further customize your contact lens for the best possible visual outcome.
In addition to our clinical keratoconus care and research efforts, we also enjoy a productive and ongoing relationship with national keratoconus research groups and run educational programs for patients with this disease.
Our results have been rather good over the years, and both doctors and patients can take heart and anticipate ever improving visual outcomes and treatments of keratoconus. Each and every one of patients who have keratoconus are unique in their treatment plans. Each treatment has a goal of achieving better vision – whether it be stabilization, better uncorrected vision, increased spectacle correction, or more comfort and clarity with specialty contact lenses, we strive for success.