Keratoconus is a condition where your cornea thins and bulges in the shape of a cone. Light rays get out of focus as the shape of the cornea changes. As a result, your vision becomes fuzzy and distorted, making everyday tasks such as reading or driving difficult.
Causes
Doctors are unsure why people get keratoconus. It appears to be hereditary in certain situations (passed down in families). One in every ten persons with keratoconus has a parent who also has it. Keratoconus is also linked to:
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- eye allergies
- excessive rubbing of the eyes
- connective tissue disorders such as Marfan syndrome and Ehlers-Danlos syndrome.
Symptoms
Keratoconus is most common in persons in their late teens to early twenties. Over a period of 10 to 20 years, the eyesight issues gradually worsen.
Keratoconus frequently affects both eyes and might result in highly different vision between the two. In addition, symptoms might differ between eyes and alter over time.
Keratoconus symptoms in the early stages might include:
- Moderate vision blur, somewhat distorted eyesight, where straight lines appear curved or wavy.
- Increased light sensitivity and glare, eye redness or oedema.
Keratoconus symptoms in later stages frequently include:
- Extremely blurry and distorted vision.
- Increased nearsightedness or astigmatism (when your eye cannot focus as well as it should). As a result, you may require new eyeglass prescriptions regularly.
- Not being unable to use contact lenses. They may no longer fit correctly and be unpleasant.
Keratoconus often progresses over the years from the early to late stages. Keratoconus, on the other hand, might worsen swiftly in certain people. The cornea might abruptly enlarge and scar. Scar tissue causes the cornea to lose its smoothness and clarity. As a result, eyesight becomes increasingly distorted and hazy.
Diagnosis
Keratoconus can be detected during a standard eye checkup. Your ophthalmologist will inspect and measure the curvature of your cornea. This aids in determining whether or not its form has changed. Your ophthalmologist may also use a sophisticated computer to map the surface of your cornea. This detailed picture depicts the surface of the cornea.
Treatment
Keratoconus treatment is determined by your symptoms. When your symptoms are minimal, you can fix your eyesight using glasses. Later on, you may need to wear hard contact lenses to keep your vision in focus.
Your ophthalmologist may also treat keratoconus in the following ways:
- Intacs. This little curved device is surgically implanted in your cornea by your ophthalmologist. Intacs assist in enhancing eyesight by flattening the curvature of your cornea.
- Cross-linking of collagen. Your ophthalmologist will use a specific UV light, and eye drops to strengthen the cornea. This helps flatten or harden your cornea, preventing it from bulging further.
- Corneal transplantation. Your ophthalmologist may recommend corneal transplant if your symptoms are severe. Your ophthalmologist replaces your damaged cornea with healthy donor cornea tissue.
What To Avoid
Avoid touching your eyes if you have keratoconus. This can harm thin corneal tissue and aggravate your symptoms. Talk to your ophthalmologist about allergy medications if you have itchy eyes that cause you to rub them.
