|
What is
keratoconus?
Keratoconus is a
condition in which the cornea becomes thin and protrudes.
Keratoconus, literally, mean a cone shaped cornea. This abnormal
shape can cause serious distortion of vision.
What causes
keratoconus?
Despite continuing
research, the cause of keratoconus remains unknown. Although
keratoconus is not generally considered an inherited disorder, the
chance of a blood relative having keratoconus is thought to be as high
as one in ten.
Vigorous eye rubbing,
although not the cause of keratoconus, can contribute to the disease
process. Therefore, patients with keratoconus are advised to avoid
rubbing their eyes.
What are the
symptoms of keratoconus?
Blurring and
distortion of vision are the earliest symptoms of keratoconus.
Symptoms usually appear in the late teens and early twenties. The
disease will often progress slowly for 10 to 20 years then stop.
In the early stages,
vision may be only slightly affected causing glare, light sensitivity
and irritation. Each eye may be affected differently. As the disease
progresses and the cornea steepens and scars, the vision may become
more distorted.
A sudden decrease in
vision can occur if the cornea swells. The cornea swells when the
elastic part of the cornea develops a tiny crack, created by the
strain of the cornea’s protruded cone-like shape. The swelling may
persist for weeks or months as the crack heals and is gradually
replaced by scar tissue.
How is keratoconus
treated?
Mild cases are
successfully treated with glasses or specially designed contact
lenses. When vision is no longer satisfactory with glasses or contact
lenses, surgery is recommended. This may be accomplished with newer
laser surgeries or intra-corneal implants, but still often requires a
corneal transplant.
If sudden swelling
occurs, your ophthalmologist may prescribe eye drops for temporary
relief. However there are no medications that prevent progression of
the disease.
If a corneal
transplant is necessary, vision usually improves. As in any eye
surgery, complications such as rejection, infection and loss of vision
can occur, so results cannot be guaranteed.
 |
