Treatment Options for Keratoconus
Keratoconus is a progressive eye disease in which the normally round, clear front surface of the eye (the cornea) gradually thins and bulges outward into a cone-like shape. This irregular shape prevents light from focusing properly on the retina, causing blurred and distorted vision.
Symptoms
Symptoms often begin in the late teens or early 20s and may include:
- Blurred or distorted vision
- Increasing nearsightedness and astigmatism
- Frequent changes in eyeglass or contact lens prescriptions
- Increased sensitivity to light and glare
- Halos around lights, especially at night
- Difficulty driving at night
- Double vision in one eye (monocular diplopia)
Keratoconus usually affects both eyes, although one eye may be more severely affected than the other.
Causes and Risk Factors
The exact cause is unknown, but several factors are associated with keratoconus:
- Genetics (family history)
- Chronic eye rubbing
- Down syndrome
- Certain connective tissue disorders (less common)
- Ehlers-Danlos syndrome – One of the best-recognized associations. Changes in collagen may contribute to weakening and thinning of the cornea.
- Loeys-Dietz syndrome – Corneal abnormalities, including thin corneas, have been described, and keratoconus has occasionally been reported.
- Osteogenesis imperfecta – Thin corneas are more common, and keratoconus has been reported in some individuals.
Diagnosis
An eye care professional can diagnose keratoconus through:
- Comprehensive eye examination
- Corneal topography or tomography (maps the shape of the cornea)
- Corneal thickness measurement (pachymetry)
- Refraction testing to determine vision changes
Early detection is important because subtle changes may not be apparent during a routine eye exam.
Keratoconus: Overview
The Discovery Eye Foundation
Learn the basics about the eye disease Keratoconus through Discovery Eye Foundation: a non-profit organization based in Los Angeles.