Tissue-Addition Keratoplasty (CTAK) for Keratoconus in Los Angeles

Overview

Living in Los Angeles means relying on your eyesight for busy commutes, long workdays, and bright city nights. When keratoconus enters the picture, simple tasks like night driving on the 405 or recognizing faces across a room can suddenly feel stressful. Keratoconus is a condition where the clear front window of your eye (the cornea) gradually thins and bulges into a cone-like shape, scattering light instead of focusing it cleanly.

At Khanna Vision Institute, we care for many people from Los Angeles who are worried about their keratoconus progressing. Some come in with glasses that never seem “quite right” anymore; others have already tried multiple contact lenses and still feel unstable. Our approach is step-wise and data-driven: we use detailed imaging and careful exam findings to map out where you are today and which treatment options make sense for your eyes.

Tissue-Addition Keratoplasty (CTAK) is one of the advanced options we may discuss. Instead of removing your corneal tissue, CTAK adds a specially prepared lamellar layer to help support and reshape the cornea. It is not the first step for every patient, but for the right Los Angeles keratoconus cases it can be part of a thoughtful, long-term plan to support vision and reduce the chances of needing a full transplant.

Symptoms people notice

Keratoconus rarely appears overnight. Most people look back and realize their vision had been changing slowly for years. You may notice some symptoms more when you are out in the bright Los Angeles sun, others when driving home after dark:

Headlights and streetlights producing halos, streaks, or “spider” patterns at night.
Words on a screen or phone looking smeared or doubled, especially in one eye at a time.
Frequent prescription changes where each new pair of glasses helps only briefly.
Eye fatigue or headaches after computer work, studio time, or extended phone use.
A strong habit of rubbing your eyes because they feel itchy, dry, or irritated.

These symptoms do not prove you have keratoconus, but they are strong enough clues that a corneal specialist should evaluate your eyes. The earlier we see changes on imaging, the more options we typically have to prevent further progression.

Why it happens

Researchers now believe keratoconus develops from a combination of genetics and environmental stress on the cornea. You did not “cause” this condition, but understanding the risk factors can help you protect your eyes moving forward.

Inherited tendencies. Keratoconus can run in families. Certain collagen structures may be more vulnerable to thinning and distortion over time.
Chronic eye rubbing. Rubbing the eyes hard, especially in the setting of allergies or dry eye, can mechanically stress the cornea day after day.
Surface inflammation. Untreated allergies, contact lens overwear, and irritation can all raise inflammatory signals on the eye’s surface, which may contribute to changes in the cornea.
Other associated conditions. Some systemic or connective tissue conditions are seen more often in people with keratoconus, although many patients are otherwise healthy.

We spend time reviewing these factors with our Los Angeles patients because simple habits—like avoiding eye rubbing and controlling allergies—remain important before and after advanced procedures like CTAK or cross-linking.

Corneal Tissue Addition Keratoplasty (CTAK): what to expect

CTAK is a form of lamellar keratoplasty in which a thin piece of donor corneal tissue is added to your cornea, instead of replacing it fully. The goal is to reinforce weaker areas, gently reshape the corneal surface, and create a more favorable structure for vision and future treatments such as scleral lenses.

Planning for CTAK is highly individualized. We use multiple imaging systems to create maps of your corneal thickness, steepness, and irregularity. These maps guide decisions about the size, arc, and position of the tissue that will be added.

Plans are built from detailed topography, tomography, and a comprehensive clinical exam.
CTAK is offered only in select centers with experience in advanced keratoconus surgery.
It is often coordinated with corneal cross-linking to provide additional structural stability.
A precise lamellar graft is placed where your cornea needs extra support the most.

Imaging reveals where your cornea is thinnest and how its shape has changed over time.
A lamellar graft is prepared to match the planned arc, thickness, and location.
The tissue is carefully positioned to support and regularize the corneal curvature.
A post-operative drop schedule, shield protection, and follow-up plan guide your recovery.

The intention of CTAK is not to promise “perfect” unaided vision, but to build a more stable cornea so that glasses or lenses can provide clearer, more predictable results in the long run.

Watch: CTAK surgery for keratoconus (video)

Many Los Angeles patients tell us they feel more comfortable once they can actually see what a procedure looks like. The following video from our YouTube channel walks through CTAK surgery and explains why this tissue-addition approach is considered in certain keratoconus cases.

Who might be a candidate

When you visit Khanna Vision Institute, we do not start with a procedure name. We start with your story: how your vision has been changing, what you’ve already tried, and what you hope to be able to do comfortably—whether that’s driving at night on the 101, editing video, or simply reading without strain.

Documented or strongly suspected progression on corneal scans.
Corneal thickness measurements within a safe range for tissue-addition techniques.
A relatively clear corneal surface without dense scarring in critical areas.
A willingness to follow aftercare instructions and keep scheduled follow-up visits.

For some people in Los Angeles, we may recommend cross-linking, specialty lenses, or ICRS first, and reserve CTAK for later. For others, CTAK enters the discussion earlier because of the corneal pattern or stage of disease.

Alternatives and combinations

Keratoconus care often works best when treatments are combined and sequenced thoughtfully. Depending on your situation, we may talk about:

Corneal cross-linking (CXL). A procedure that uses riboflavin drops and UV light to strengthen collagen fibers and slow progression, often considered the “foundation” in many plans.
INTACS® intrastromal corneal ring segments (ICRS). Small plastic segments placed in the cornea to help flatten and regularize certain keratoconus patterns.
Scleral or hybrid contact lenses. These lenses vault over the irregular cornea and create a smooth optical surface, often providing very sharp vision after stabilization procedures.
Topography-guided surface laser procedures. In carefully selected eyes with adequate thickness, surface laser reshaping may be combined with cross-linking to refine the corneal shape.
Corneal transplantation. In advanced, scarred, or very thin corneas, a partial or full transplant may still be the best path toward long-term vision.

CTAK is one piece of this toolkit. The value of a comprehensive evaluation is that you can see where CTAK fits relative to more familiar options like cross-linking and scleral lenses.

Risks and safeguards

Every surgery involves risk, and tissue-addition keratoplasty is no exception. Before you decide, we make sure you have time to ask questions and understand both the benefits and possible downsides.

Early healing symptoms. Light sensitivity, tearing, and a gritty sensation are common during the initial recovery period.
Infection or delayed surface healing. These issues are uncommon, but we minimize risk through drop schedules, hygiene instructions, and close follow-up.
Temporary haze or fluctuating vision. As the cornea stabilizes, your vision may change from day to day before settling.
Graft- or interface-related changes. Any procedure involving added tissue can produce interface changes or scarring that must be monitored over time.

Our Los Angeles patients often tell us they feel more confident once they know what warning signs to watch for and how to reach us quickly if something feels different from what we described in advance.

Recovery timeline

Recovery after CTAK is a process, not an instant transformation. Many people arrange for a lighter schedule in the first several days and ask a family member or friend to help with transportation to and from the procedure.

Wear protective shields during sleep until the doctor confirms they are no longer needed.
Avoid rubbing your eyes completely and keep allergies under control with the recommended plan.
Stay away from dusty work sites, blowing sand, smoke, and chlorinated pools during early healing.
Drive only when legal vision requirements are met and you feel personally comfortable and safe.

We will let you know when it makes sense to update your glasses, try scleral lenses, or make other vision-related decisions so you do not spend money on prescriptions that are likely to change again quickly.

Costs and payment options

Advanced keratoconus care is an investment, and we know that cost is an important part of the decision for many Los Angeles families. Our goal is to be transparent so you can plan ahead.

Written cost estimates are provided after your imaging, diagnosis, and treatment plan are reviewed.
Financing options may be available to help spread payments into manageable monthly amounts.
HSA and FSA funds can often be used toward eligible keratoconus procedures and related services.

If you have questions about timing, insurance pre-authorization, or payment structure, our team will walk you through the details before you commit to a procedure date.

Khanna Vision Institute locations for Los Angeles patients

Many keratoconus patients live or work in different parts of Los Angeles and want the flexibility to choose the office that fits their commute. Both of our locations share the same commitment to careful imaging, honest discussion, and personal follow-up.

Khanna Vision Institute – Beverly Hills

Company Name: Khanna Vision Institute
Address: 9100 Wilshire Blvd #265e, Beverly Hills, CA 90212, United States
Phone: +1 310-482-1240

Khanna Vision Institute – Westlake Village (The First Neighborhood Community Center)

Company Name: Khanna Vision Institute
Located in: The First Neighborhood Community Center
Address: 31824 Village Center Rd F, Westlake Village, CA 91361, United States
Phone: +1 805-230-2126

Frequently asked questions

Will I still need glasses or contacts after CTAK?

In most cases, yes. CTAK is meant to strengthen and regularize the cornea, not to eliminate the lifelong need for visual correction. Many people achieve their best clarity with glasses, scleral lenses, or other specialty lenses once the cornea has stabilized.

How long does recovery usually take?

Surface healing happens over days to weeks, while deeper remodeling of the cornea can continue for several months. During that time, vision may fluctuate, and we will guide you on when it is appropriate to change prescriptions or fit new lenses.

What are my other options if CTAK is not recommended?

Depending on your scans and goals, alternatives may include cross-linking alone, INTACS® ring segments, scleral or hybrid lenses, staged topography-guided treatments, or corneal transplantation in advanced cases. We review these choices side by side so you can see the full picture.

Who is typically considered for CTAK in Los Angeles?

CTAK may be considered in people with progressive keratoconus, adequate corneal thickness, and relatively clear corneas who are motivated to follow the recommended follow-up plan. Your overall eye health and lifestyle are factored into the decision.

Is corneal cross-linking a kind of laser surgery?

No. Cross-linking uses riboflavin eye drops and UV-A light to strengthen collagen fibers in the cornea. It does not reshape the surface like LASIK or PRK. Instead, it is designed to slow or stop further progression of keratoconus so you can protect the vision you have.

Plan your visit

People traveling from different neighborhoods in Los Angeles—whether downtown, the Valley, the Westside, or the South Bay—often choose morning appointments to make parking and drive times easier. When you call, let us know where you are coming from so we can help you choose the most convenient office and time.

To get the most from your consultation, bring copies of previous prescriptions, any past keratoconus scans, and information about your current contact lenses. Write down your questions about CTAK, cross-linking, lenses, and costs so we can address each one clearly during your visit.

References

Text 818-857-1735 with your CTAK questions · Call Beverly Hills: 310-482-1240 · Call Westlake Village: 805-230-2126

Bring previous prescriptions, contact lens history, and any old keratoconus scans to help us compare how your eyes have changed.

Ask us to walk you through your new imaging so you can clearly see whether your keratoconus is stable, improving, or progressing.

Follow the post-procedure instructions carefully, including eye shields, drop schedules, and activity restrictions, to protect your results.

Contact Khanna Vision Institute promptly if you notice increased pain, sudden vision changes, or any symptoms that feel worrisome or unexpected.