Understanding Keratoconus: What You Need to Know
Keratoconus (ker-uh-toh-koh-nuhs) might sound complicated, but let’s break it down in simple terms. It’s a condition where the cornea—the clear, dome-shaped front part of your eye—thins and starts to bulge into a cone shape. Think of the cornea as the lens that helps focus light onto the back of your eye. When it becomes misshapen, it can make your vision a bit fuzzy and distorted, kind of like looking through a funhouse mirror.
Signs You Might Have Keratoconus
If you’re dealing with keratoconus, you might notice your glasses and contact lens prescriptions changing frequently. Your vision may still seem blurry with your new prescription, and your contact lenses may become uncomfortable. You could also see halos and glare around lights, especially at night, and find that bright lights bother your eyes more than usual. Your vision might seem ghosted, shadowy, or double.
How We Diagnose Keratoconus
Keratoconus often shows up in your teenage years and worsens into your late 30s. It has been diagnosed as young as 5 years old. We will begin by reviewing your medical history and any previous glasses prescription changes if available. The next step would involve checking your vision and determining the best prescription for you. We will conduct a thorough eye exam with non-invasive specialized testing. This testing includes corneal mapping, which is a detailed scan of the shape of your eye, and checking the thickness of the cornea, as it is usually thinner than normal corneas.
Let’s Talk About Risk Factors
Do you rub your eyes? STOP—this habit can cause and progress keratoconus! You may also be at risk if a close family member has keratoconus. Ask your parents and grandparents if they have any eye problems. Chronic allergies can cause eye rubbing and inflammation, leading to keratoconus. Medical conditions including Down’s syndrome and connective tissue disorders such as Ehlers-Danlos and Marfan syndrome also increase risk. Catching it early is key to slowing it down. If you can avoid rubbing your eyes, manage inflammation, and consider treatments like collagen cross-linking, it can really help.
Fixing Your Vision
In the early stages, we might correct your vision with glasses or disposable soft contact lenses. As keratoconus progresses, other types of lenses can come into play. Gas permeable lenses are firm, small lenses that fit on the center of your cornea, improving clarity and reducing distortion. Sometimes bigger is better. Scleral lenses are larger gas permeable lenses that rest on the white part of your eye (sclera). They can fit mild to advanced keratoconus, delaying the need for surgery. Hybrid lenses blend a gas permeable center with a soft outer edge and can be used for early to mid-stage keratoconus. We’ll discuss each option available to provide you with the best vision and review the financial considerations of each.
Treatment Options
For those who need more than just lenses, there are other treatments. Collagen cross-linking strengthens the cornea by using UV light and riboflavin to stabilize it. Corneal implants, which are thin, plastic rings, can help reshape the cornea to smooth out irregularities. If these options aren’t enough, corneal transplantation, where the cornea is replaced with donor tissue, might be necessary. After these procedures, you'll likely still need glasses or contact lenses to achieve your best vision.
If you have any concerns about your vision or think you might have keratoconus, schedule your consultation with us today. We’re here to help you see clearly and comfortably.
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