Kerotoconus
Symptoms
- Casting eyes
- Blurred vision
- Distorted vision
- Light sensitivity
Diagnostics
Determined by routine eye examination
Treatment
- Glasses
- Contact lenses
- Surgical treatment
What is keratoconus?
Keratoconus occurs when the cornea (the round, clear front part of the eye) starts to weaken and thin in the central part, making it irregular (cone-shaped). This can affect the eye’s ability to focus and cause blurred or distorted vision.
What are the symptoms of keratoconus?
Keratoconus often affects both eyes, but the symptoms of each can be different. In the early stages, symptoms of keratoconus can include:
- Slight squinting or blurred vision;
- Slightly distorted vision, with some parts of the image clear and some blurred;
- Hypersensitivity to light and radiation.
In some very rare cases, keratoconus progresses. Then the following symptoms occur:
- Very blurred and distorted vision;
- Eye pain;
- Worsening myopia and astigmatism;
- It is not possible to wear normal contact lenses because they are no longer suitable.
Keratoconus usually develops over several years, but can sometimes progress rapidly over several months. If you are worried about the condition of your eyes, you should contact your eye specialist.
What causes keratoconus?
Keratoconus is a complex condition and the causes are not fully understood. Although it is thought that certain factors may play a role:
- Family history of the disease, where other family members have also been diagnosed with the disease;
- Allergies that can cause keratoconus;
- Conditions leading to excessive eye rubbing and weakening of the cornea.
How is keratoconus diagnosed?
Your eye specialist will review your medical history and perform an eye examination. If suspicions arise, regular measurements of the corneal shape will be taken from time to time to help diagnose keratoconus.
What help is available?
The treatment of keratoconus will depend on the severity of the disease and how quickly it progresses. Your eye specialist will be able to advise you on what is best for you.
In minor cases, glasses or contact lenses can help. In many people, the cornea stabilises after a few years and it is unlikely that serious visual problems will occur and further treatment will not be needed.
Only in very rare cases does the cornea become so irregular and flattened that it becomes scarred, making it impossible to wear contact lenses, even highly specialised ones. In this case, surgical treatment may have to be considered. In this case, you will be referred to a specialist who will choose the most appropriate treatment or surgery.
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Frequently asked questions
Can keratoconus cause blindness?
Only in the rarest cases does creotoconus cause serious visual impairment. However, the existing condition can progress to the point where the impaired vision can affect your normal life.
How does keratoconus progress over time?
Keratoconus usually starts in puberty or adolescence and slowly progresses over the course of 10 to 20 years, then stabilises.
What is the best treatment for keratoconus?
In the early stages of the disease, your eye specialist will be able to advise you on the best treatment option – glasses or contact lenses. If the condition continues to progress, you will need to contact a cornea specialist to consider further treatment options depending on the severity of the keratoconus.
What is keratoconus?
Keratoconus, an eye disease in which the cornea begins to weaken and thin in the central part of the eye, causing it to become irregularly shaped (conical)
