Keratoconus treatment for patients from Krakow, Lesser Poland, and Silesia: MS-39 tomography with epithelial mapping, crosslinking using any protocol (including sub400 and with laser), ICL lenses for stable keratoconus, qualification and follow-ups for CAIRS rings. All at the SwissLaser clinic at Kluczborska 15/U3 Street in Krakow (Krowodrza). Treatment is provided by Dr. Victor Derhartunian, who has been performing crosslinking since 2007 and learned the method from its creator, Prof. Theo Seiler in Zurich. Prices: crosslinking PLN 3,600, CXL with laser PLN 8,700, CAIRS PLN 16,000, ICL PLN 11,000, qualification PLN 400.
Keratoconus Treatment in Krakow — Quick Answers
- Is the entire keratoconus treatment performed in Krakow? Tomography, qualification, crosslinking using any protocol, laser variants, ICL lenses, fitting of scleral lenses, and all follow-ups are.
- How long is the wait for crosslinking in Krakow? Privately at SwissLaser: qualification within 1–2 weeks, procedure in the next 1–3 weeks. Under the National Health Fund (NFZ) in Lesser Poland and Silesia, waiting times range from several weeks to several months, depending on the hospital.
- I am coming from Silesia. Can I have the qualification and procedure on the same day? Yes, if you have previous corneal maps confirming progression; please submit them via preliminary online qualification. Without them, we schedule the procedure the day after the examination or in the following week.
- Do you fit scleral lenses in Krakow? Yes. We conduct fitting of rigid gas permeable and scleral lenses at our clinic in Krakow; this is the primary non-surgical method for improving vision in keratoconus, even after crosslinking.
- How much does keratoconus surgery cost?
Crosslinking PLN 3,600 per eye, in combination with laser PLN 8,700. Intracorneal rings (CAIRS) PLN 16,000 per eye — qualification and follow-ups in Krakow, procedure at our center in Vienna. Qualification examination PLN 400. - Can keratoconus be cured?
It cannot be reversed. Crosslinking stops the progression of the disease in 90–98% of patients, and this is the realistic goal of treatment. Visual acuity is only improved by subsequent steps: rigid or scleral lenses, and for advanced keratoconus, CAIRS rings. - What is the best ophthalmology clinic in Krakow?
We will not answer this question ourselves — it adds nothing. For keratoconus, it is worth checking four things: whether the center performs the sub400 protocol for thin corneas, whether it measures progression with tomography before qualification, who specifically performs the surgery and who conducts the follow-ups, and what happens if crosslinking is not sufficient. Anyone who answers these four questions specifically knows what they are doing.
SwissLaser in numbers: crosslinking since 2007, method learned from Prof. Theo Seiler in Zurich · over 25,000 refractive procedures by the chief surgeon · MS-39 and Anterion tomography · one team in Warsaw, Krakow, Vienna, and Zurich · Google: 4,8 (Warsaw) and 5,0 (Krakow)
For patients from Krakow, Lesser Poland, Silesia, and Subcarpathia
The clinic at Kluczborska 15 Street is located in Krowodrza, near the Krowodrza Górka loop with a Park and Ride parking lot, 15 minutes by tram from the Main Railway Station. We accept keratoconus patients from all over southern Poland. We plan qualification and the procedure on one or two consecutive days; in Krakow, we also fit rigid and scleral lenses, so full vision rehabilitation can be carried out in one place.
- Krakow and surrounding areas: Wieliczka, Skawina, Niepołomice, Zabierzów, Myślenice, Bochnia: 20–40 minutes.
- Lesser Poland: Tarnów, Nowy Sącz, Nowy Targ, Zakopane, Olkusz, Oświęcim, Chrzanów: 1–2 hours by car or train.
- Silesia: Katowice, Gliwice, Tychy, Sosnowiec, Bielsko-Biała, Rybnik: 45–90 minutes via A4 motorway or by train to the Main Railway Station; many patients from Silesia come to us for a second opinion before deciding on rings.
- Subcarpathia and Świętokrzyskie: Rzeszów, Kielce, Krosno, Przemyśl: 1.5–2.5 hours; procedure possible the day after qualification.
Two Treatment Goals Not to Be Confused
Keratoconus is treated in two steps, and this distinction is crucial for a good decision.
- Stopping the disease: crosslinking (CXL). It stiffens the cornea and permanently stops progression in over 90% of cases. It does not improve acuity; the earlier it is performed, the more vision you will preserve.
- Improving vision: crosslinking with laser (Cretan or Athenian protocol), CAIRS rings for advanced keratoconus, ICL lenses for stable keratoconus, rigid and scleral lenses without surgery.
Diagnostics in Krakow: Tomography Decides
Keratoconus is diagnosed tomographically, not based on worsening vision. The second-generation MS-39 tomograph maps the epithelium and corneal stroma separately, detects the disease before acuity changes, and allows for objective assessment of keratoconus progression. It is complemented by Anterion biometry. Qualification takes 60–90 minutes and costs PLN 400; discontinue soft lenses 7 days prior, rigid lenses 3–4 weeks prior.
Report quickly if: your eyeglass prescription changes every few months, astigmatism increases, glasses do not provide sharp vision, there is a family history of keratoconus, or you are under 25 and rub your eyes due to allergies. In young individuals, the disease progresses fastest.
How Keratoconus Treatment Proceeds in Krakow
- Qualification in Krakow: MS-39 tomography, Anterion, pachymetry, progression assessment, and written treatment plan (PLN 400).
- Crosslinking: outpatient procedure, about an hour per eye, topical anesthesia; protocol tailored to corneal thickness (standard, accelerated, sub400, with laser).
- First days: bandage contact lens, follow-up the next day, office work after 5–7 days.
- Follow-ups in Krakow: after one month (included), tomography after 6 and 12 months, then annually.
- Subsequent stages, if needed: CAIRS (qualification and follow-ups in Krakow, procedure in Vienna), ICL lens after one year of stability, fitting of scleral lenses.
Keratoconus Treatment Ladder: From Observation to Reconstruction
- Observation – stable keratoconus: control tomography every 6–12 months (PLN 250).
- Crosslinking (CXL) – progressive keratoconus: stopping the disease, PLN 3,600 per eye.
- CXL with laser – irregular cornea: stopping and smoothing in one procedure, PLN 8,700.
- CAIRS rings – advanced keratoconus, lens intolerance: PLN 16,000, an alternative to transplant.
- ICL lenses, rigid lenses – correction of residual refractive error after corneal stabilization: ICL PLN 11,000; rigid and scleral lenses without surgery.
How much does it cost
- Qualification with tomography: PLN 400
- Crosslinking (CXL): PLN 3,600 per eye
- Crosslinking with laser (Cretan, Athenian, TCW protocol): PLN 8,700 per eye
- CAIRS rings: PLN 16,000 per eye (procedure in Vienna)
- ICL lens: PLN 11,000 per eye
- Installments: Santander Consumer Bank
NFZ or private in Krakow?
Crosslinking has been funded by the NFZ since September 2023, but in a limited number of hospitals and with waiting times ranging from several weeks to several months, depending on the facility and region. For progressive keratoconus in a young person, this time matters: crosslinking stops the disease at the stage it is found. If you choose NFZ, first undergo tomography to know how much safe time you have. Laser variants, sub400, and CAIRS are only available privately.
What Crosslinking Does Not Do
We tell every patient before the procedure: crosslinking does not improve visual acuity. Its purpose is to stop the disease. Some patients observe a slight improvement over time as the cornea flattens, but this should not be expected. For several days after the procedure, there is discomfort and blurred vision. If vision improvement is needed, we discuss the laser variant, CAIRS rings, ICL lens, or rigid lenses; these are separate decisions.
Crosslinking is a procedure performed to prevent the need for a corneal transplant ten years later. It does not provide an effect that the patient will see the next day; it provides stability. For young patients with progressive keratoconus, this is the most important decision in the entire treatment.
Dr. med. Victor Derhartunian, FEBO, FWCRS
Frequently Asked Questions
Do you treat keratoconus in children in Krakow?
Yes, in teenagers who cooperate during the procedure, under topical anesthesia. Younger children are operated on under general anesthesia in Vienna.
Do post-procedure follow-ups have to take place in Krakow?
The follow-up the next day and after one month, yes. Tomographies after 6 and 12 months can be performed in your city, and you can send us the results for comparison.
How to reach us in Kraków
SwissLaser Clinic, Kluczborska 15/U3 Street, 31-271 Krakow (Krowodrza), near the Krowodrza Górka loop, tel. +48 12 383 33 60, Monday–Friday 8:00 AM–6:00 PM. Tram: Krowodrza Górka loop 350 m. Bus: Krowoderskich Zuchów stop 190 m. Car: free parking at the clinic and Park and Ride at the loop; from Katowice via A4 motorway and then the bypass, exit Krakow Modlnica. Train: Krakow Łobzów station 890 m.
Video: how to treat keratoconus
Dr. Victor Derhartunian in 54 seconds: can keratoconus be effectively treated and what to do for advanced keratoconus. Video from the SwissLaser channel.
Our Patients’ Reviews
Google rating: Warsaw 4,8 (reviews: 258) · Krakow 5,0 (reviews: 171). All reviews, unedited and unselected, can be read directly on Google: Warsaw · Krakow.
Related topics
- Keratoconus: a complete guide
- Crosslinking: protocols, procedure, price
- CAIRS rings
- Keratoconus treatment price list
- ICL lenses in Krakow
- Keratoconus treatment in Warsaw
- How to prepare for qualification
Content medically verified by Dr. med. univ. (Vienna) Victor Derhartunian, FEBO, FWCRS, a surgeon performing crosslinking since 2007. Last updated: September 6, 2026.
How to get to the clinic in Krakow
Kluczborska 15/U3 Street, 31-271 Krakow – Krowodrza.
Phone: +48 12 383 33 60 · Crosslinking in Krakow · Monday – Friday, 8:00 AM – 6:00 PM
- Bus: Krowoderskich Zuchów stop about 190 m – three minutes on foot.
- Tram: Krowodrza Górka terminus about 350 m, or a 5-minute walk.
- By car: at the Krowodrza Górka terminus, there is a Park and Ride parking lot – leave your car and take the tram.
- Train: Kraków Łobzów station about 890 m.
Other procedures in Krakow
In the same clinic, we also perform:
Laser vision correction
Trans-PRK, FemtoLASIK, SmartSight – from PLN 10,000 for both eyes
Phakic ICL Lenses
when laser is not enough: refractive errors up to -18 dpt, PLN 11,000 per eye
Refractive Lens Exchange
solution after 45 years of age, also corrects presbyopia
Cataract treatment
removal of clouded lens with premium implant
Presbyopia Treatment
PresbyMAX, EDOF lenses, monovision
Chalazion removal
procedure under local anesthesia, PLN 800 per eye – only in Krakow
E-EYE therapy
dry eye syndrome and Meibomian gland dysfunction – only in Krakow
