What You Need To Know Keratoconus Submitted by Atlanta Vision Cataract and Laser Center on October 27, 2016
Keratoconus is a rare condition whereby the usually round, dome-shaped cornea becomes thin and starts to develop a cone-shaped bulge. A cornea shaped like a cone causes blurry vision and may also cause an increased sensitivity to harsh glare and light. It generally occurs in both eyes and typically in individuals aged 10-25 years, progressing slowly over time.
Problems with vision can be properly corrected with either eyeglasses or contact lenses early on. As the condition progresses, it may be necessary to be fitted with special kinds of contact lenses including rigid gas permeable lenses. More advanced stages of the disorder may call for a cornea transplant in some individuals.
Here are the facts about this rare condition:
Causes
The exact cause is not known.
The condition may be linked to any of the following:
• Several years of consistently wearing contact lenses• Vigorous eye rubbing• A combination of several disorders, including hereditary factors, such as Down syndrome or enzyme abnormalities• Other significant eye disorders, such as vernal keratoconjunctivitis, retinopathy of prematurity, or retinitis pigmentosa.
Symptoms
Symptoms may change as the condition progresses, some of which may include:
• Greater sensitivity to harsh glare and bright light• Night vision problems• Distorted or blurred vision• Abrupt clouding or worsening of vision, subsequently caused by a key condition where the back of the cornea ruptures and then fills up with fluid• Several changes in prescriptions for glasses
Risk Factors
The following factors can increase your overall chances of developing the condition:
• Family HistoryIf there’s a known family history of the condition, your chances are higher of developing the disorder.
• Some DiseasesYou may have a much higher risk if you have certain genetic disorders or inherited diseases, including Ehlers-Danlos syndrome, Down syndrome, osteogenesis imperfecta, or Leber’s congenital amaurosis of developing the disease.
Treatments
Milder cases of keratoconus can be effectively treated with either glasses or contact lenses. For most individuals, after a few years the cornea will naturally become stable. In fact, they won’t have serious vision problems or need any more treatment.
For some people with the condition, however, wearing contact lenses starts to become more difficult or their cornea eventually becomes scarred. In such cases, surgery may be inevitable.
Contact Lenses
For the majority of people with the condition, contact lenses are by far the most successful means of treating it.
• Soft contact lenses or eyeglasses• Piggyback lenses• Scleral contact lenses• Hybrid lenses• Rigid gas permeable contact lenses
If you’re someone using scleral or rigid gas permeable contact lenses, be sure to have them properly fitted by an experienced eye doctor at Atlanta Vision Cataract & Laser Center Center in treating the condition. It’s also important to note that you’ll need frequent refittings and regular checkups since a hard contact lens that doesn’t fit properly can literally damage the cornea.
Surgery
It may be necessary to have surgery if you have any of the following:
• Corneal scarring• Poor vision despite wearing very strong prescription lenses• Extreme thinning of the cornea• Unable to wear any kind of contact lenses
Options for surgery include:
• Cornea transplant, or keratoplasty• Corneal inserts, or intracorneal ring segments
Time to See Your Doctor
Visit your eye doctor at Atlanta Vision Cataract & Laser Center Center to determine if you have astigmatism (abnormal curvature of the eye) or if your eyesight is rapidly deteriorating. Your ophthalmologist will also likely look for evidence of keratoconus while examining your eyes as well.