Keratoconus is a progressive eye disease in which the cornea (the front ocular surface) thins, causing the cornea to develop a cone-like shape. The misshapen cornea deflects light, causing distorted vision, and may result in blurred vision, double vision, myopia, irregular astigmatism, and sensitivity to light. Keratoconus is the most common corneal dystrophy diagnosed in the United States and typically first appears during the teenage or young adult years, which is why unexplained changes in a teen’s glasses or contact lens prescription are worth mentioning at their next exam.
Your cornea is held in place by very small collagen fibers. If they are weakened, they cannot preserve the typical round shape of your cornea. The exact cause of keratoconus, however, is still unknown.
We do know that eye rubbing is a significant factor in causing progressive keratoconus in many cases. So it is very important to avoid eye rubbing (even if you have undergone corneal crosslinking).
We also understand that weakening of the cornea tends to happen in those with a genetic predisposition, which is why keratoconus may affect several people in a single family.
As the shape of your cornea begins to bulge, it alters your eyesight. Your normally smooth corneal surface becomes irregular and expands, becoming cone-shaped. This causes irregular astigmatism or nearsightedness and changes the way that light comes through your visual system (see some of the most common symptoms below). The condition tends to begin in one eye and later develops in the other eye as well.
Mild blurred vision
Slightly distorted vision (straight lines appear bent or wavy)
Some sensitivity to light and glare
Red-eye and/or swelling
Chronically irritated eyes
Increased blurred and distorted vision
Nearsightedness or irregular astigmatism
Inability to wear regular contact lenses
There are several ways to address this and it’s really dependent on what the severity is and how aggressive the progression is over time. To start we will do corneal topography (map of the front surface of your eyes) to assess and continue to monitor the rate of progression. If needed, we will refer you for a surgical consultation. We’ll review what the best options are for your situation when you’re in the office and we can look at what your individual situation shows on the testing.
Here are some of the ways we can address it:
Specialty lens options work differently than standard glasses or soft contacts. Scleral and hybrid lenses vault over the irregular cornea rather than resting directly on it, creating a smooth new optical surface with a cushion of fluid underneath for comfort. This is often why patients who could never get clear, stable vision from regular contacts do well with these designs. Learn more about how these specialty lenses fit into our broader contact lens options.
Are you ready to up-level your eye care experience? Reach out to Advanced Eye Care Professionals for more information about our services. We’re happy to help!
