To understand the eye disorder called Keratoconus, it’s imperative to first understand the crucial role of your cornea. Your eye’s cornea is the dome-shaped surface that covers the front of the eye. It controls the entry of light into the eye, which allows us to see. Keratoconus is an eye disorder that thins the cornea and causes the cornea to bulge outward. You can imagine the difficulty that is associated with a thinning and bulging cornea. Discover more about Keratoconus and how we can help:

Keratoconus Causes

Your eye’s cornea deserves and needs to be treated with care. When the cornea is weakened, it is more susceptible to infections and diseases. Common causes of Keratoconus include overexposure to the sun’s ultraviolet rays, extreme eye rubbing, ill-fitted contact lenses, and long-lasting eye irritation. However, some people avoid all these factors yet still end up with this eye condition. This may be due to a genetic predisposition associated with Keratoconus. This is why multiple people in the same family may suffer from this condition.

Keratoconus Symptoms

Most symptoms will occur during a person’s teenage or early adult years. If you experience any of the following symptoms, Keratoconus may be in its early stages: blurred vision, sensitivity to light, distorted or double vision, astigmatism, vision loss, nearsightedness, and discoloring of the Fleisher ring. It’s important to note that this condition normally presents itself in one eye at first. It may or may not affect both eyes; however, the moment you feel your eyesight changing, contact an eyesight professional for help.

Keratoconus Treatments

Depending on the severity of the condition, a person with Keratoconus may be able to correct their vision with glasses or specially-fitted contact lenses. Neither option should be chosen lightly, as the most important factor is getting the right aid to help your eyes and not cause further damage to the cornea. Roughly one out of five people with Keratoconus eventually need a Corneal Transplant due to the scarring of the corneal tissue. There is no need to fear this procedure, as it is extremely successful and will help your vision immensely.

Do you have questions about Keratoconus and how one of our providers can help? Contact us today.