Keratoconus is a non-contagious eye disorder that involves the cornea of the eye. The cornea is the front, clear section of the eye. With a normal and healthy eye, the cornea is round. In the case of keratoconus, the cornea is weak and thin. This leads to an impact on the penetration of light into the eye.
It typically affects both eyes, although one of them may be affected more seriously than the other. The condition is not life-threatening. However, if not treated, then the consequences that they can have on a normal life can be very severe. The simplest of tasks, such as reading, driving or using a phone, can be difficult. This can be slowed down or prevented with an early diagnosis and the treatment at the appropriate time, and save vision.
There is no single clear cause of keratoconus. Doctors believe it develops due to a combination of factors. Common causes and risk factors are as fellows:
In the early stage, symptoms are mild and easy to miss. Many people think they only need a new glasses prescription, but that’s not right, you may notice:
As the condition progresses, glasses may no longer provide clear vision. Specialized contact lenses or medical treatment then become necessary.
As keratoconus progresses, RGP lenses are commonly prescribed. These lenses are positioned beneath the cornea and serve to provide a smooth surface for light to be reflected. This ensures improvement in vision, better than glasses. RGP lenses may feel uncomfortable at first. Most patients adjust over time with proper fitting.
When RGP lenses are not suitable, advanced lenses are used.
When keratoconus becomes severe and other treatments fail, surgery may be needed.
Types of Corneal Transplant:
Keratoconus cannot be completely cured. However, its course may be decreased or arrested by the assistance of timely treatment. Vision can be successfully treated with glasses, specialty contact lenses, or surgery if needed.
Keratoconus never causes complete blindness. Even in very advanced cases, there is at all times some extent of vision. With proper treatment and regular follow-ups, most people have useful vision. Modern treatments have had a tremendous improvement in the long term.
Keratoconus is not normally painful. It affects mostly the clarity of vision and not the comfort of the eyes. Some people may experience some mild irritation from dry eyes or contact lenses. Severe pain is not a common symptom.
Keratoconus typically advances in adolescence and early adulthood. It even starts to level in a lot of individuals at the age of 35 to 40. The progression varies with each individual, though. To be able to track the changes, it is important to check the eyes regularly.
Keratoconus is not always preventable, particularly in the case of genetics. However, not rubbing the eyes can greatly reduce the risk of progression. Treating eye allergies at an early stage helps avoid constant eye rubbing. Early eye care is a major role in the protection of corneal health.
Keratoconus can be worrying, especially in the beginning, when, with no warning, the vision will begin to change. This limits the possibility of having severe vision loss in the future. At Save Sight Centre, we put little emphasis on either early detection or personal treatment. Every patient is different, and care plans are customized according to individual needs. We have advanced diagnostic tools to detect keratoconus at its earliest stages, so that many times the disease can be detected before the symptoms worsen.
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