Keratoconus: What Practitioners need to know (with A/Prof Elaine Chong)

Join Lien Trinh for a practitioner-focused interview with Associate Professor Elaine Chong (University of Melbourne and Centre for Eye Research Australia) as they deep dive into keratoconus and what contemporary care looks like now.

This CPD activity explores how we diagnose keratoconus earlier and more accurately using modern tomography, including what to look for on imaging and why progression assessment can vary between patients. Elaine unpacks key clinical markers that should raise suspicion in practice. You will also hear insights from population-based data in young adults, and how improved imaging is reshaping how we define “mild” disease.

We take a practical look at when to monitor versus when to refer for corneal collagen cross-linking, what “documented progression” means, and how current approaches are evolving. Elaine discusses options beyond cross-linking, including intracorneal ring segments, emerging allogenic corneal ring approaches, and where DALK and penetrating keratoplasty sit in the pathway.

Elaine also introduces her free patient education tool, OneRightEye.com, a 3D interactive eyeball designed to improve understanding of anatomy, disease progression, and treatment concepts. This episode is ideal for optometrists wanting clearer clinical pearls for detection, counselling, and timely referral in keratoconus care.