Keratoconus is an eye condition where the clear tissue at the front of your eye swells outward into a cone-like shape. This clear tissue is the cornea, and it has a round shape like a dome or a ball. Therefore, Keratoconus weakens the corneal muscles, making the cornea too curved and unable to stay in its round shape.

 

This happens when a person does not have sufficient protein fibers in their cornea. The protein fibers keep the cornea strong and hold it in place. Therefore, when these fibers become feeble, they cannot hold the cornea, and the shape of the cornea becomes more like a cone.

 

Signs of Keratoconus

Research does not tell exactly what brings about Keratoconus, but researchers think age, certain syndromes like Down syndrome, eye disease, frequent eye-rubbing, race, and family history have a link to the condition.

 

Here are the signs:

 

Blurry and Distorted Vision

This is the most common warning signal of Keratoconus. As the shape of the cornea gets more conical, a person will experience fuzzier vision. On top of that, visual distortion may occur, causing straight lines or objects to appear curved.

 

Double Vision

Keratoconus worsens the vision in one or both eyes. A person may have double vision or see an incomplete, partial image (“ghost images”) around what he or she is looking at.

 

Redness and Swelling

In rare instances, Keratoconus results in an illness known as corneal hydrops. This occurs when part of your cornea splits, leaving your eye fluid to pour into your cornea unusually. This can bring about severe pain, redness, and swelling.

 

Heightened Nearsightedness

As the cornea transforms into a cone, the smooth tissue becomes wavy, causing your eye not to focus well. This means that your eye will have trouble forming images on your retina, and you will also have difficulty seeing objects that are far.

 

Increased Light Sensitivity

As Keratoconus worsens, you may find it hard to be outdoors without a hat or sunglasses because of increased sensitivity to bright light or glare.

 

Poor Night Vision

The change in the shape of the cornea can also result in poor night vision. When in the dark, you may start seeing halos forming around lights. This is often one of the early warning signs of Keratoconus.

 

Treating Keratoconus

An eye exam is important to detect and treat Keratoconus. Afterward, your eye doctor will probably put you on new eyeglasses. If your case is mild, glasses should clear up the issue.

 

If the glasses do not improve your condition, your doctor may recommend contact lenses, as he or she monitors your progress. As time goes on, depending on your doctor’s evaluation, you may require further treatment to strengthen your corneal muscles and boost your vision. This should help prevent the condition from becoming worse, in which case your doctor may put implants to flatten the cone-like shape and enhance your sight.

 

When other relevant treatments do not improve your vision, the doctor will recommend a cornea transplant as a last resort. The procedure will include removing the middle part of your cornea and replacing it with one from a donor.

 

Learn more about the signs of keratoconus & treatments, contact Today’s Vision in Laguna Niguel, CA at (949) 518-0055 to book an appointment today.