Keratoconus

Keratoconus is an eye condition in which the cornea, the clear front part of your eye, gradually becomes thinner and bulges outwards in a cone-like shape. In a healthy eye, the cornea is nicely round and dome-shaped, but in keratoconus it loses that regular shape. Because of this distortion, the light entering your eye is refracted irregularly, leading to blurred and distorted vision.

The condition usually begins between the ages of ten and twenty and often develops slowly over a period of ten to twenty years. Keratoconus can affect one or both eyes, and often one eye is more severely affected than the other. The cause is not fully understood, but there appears to be a hereditary component: the condition runs in families. Keratoconus is also associated with frequent eye-rubbing, allergies and certain connective tissue disorders.

In the early stages, you may notice very little, but as the cornea becomes more distorted, symptoms may develop such as increasing short-sightedness, irregular astigmatism, sensitivity to light, halos around light sources and difficulty seeing clearly, even with glasses. In advanced cases, the cornea may tear or develop scarring.

The diagnosis is made by an ophthalmologist or optometrist, often using corneal topography, a technique that maps the shape and thickness of the cornea. Keratoconus is a progressive condition, which means that in most cases it worsens gradually, although the course of the condition varies from person to person.

Vision correction

In the early stages, vision can often still be corrected with glasses or soft contact lenses. As the distortion increases, rigid (hard) contact lenses usually provide better correction, as they form a new, smooth optical surface over the irregular cornea. There are also special lenses for keratoconus, such as scleral lenses or hybrid lenses, which are fitted by a contact lens specialist.

Medical treatment

In cases of progressive keratoconus, an ophthalmologist may suggest a treatment to slow down further distortion, such as corneal cross-linking, in which the cornea is strengthened using riboflavin and UV light. In advanced cases, a corneal transplant may be necessary. These decisions are always made by your ophthalmologist based on the progression of the condition.

Avoid rubbing your eyes

Frequent or vigorous rubbing of the eyes is associated with the worsening of keratoconus. If you suffer from itching or irritation, for example due to allergies, discuss with your optician how you can relieve these symptoms without rubbing your eyes.

Regular check-ups

As keratoconus is a progressive condition, regular check-ups with your optician, optometrist or ophthalmologist are important to monitor its progression and adjust your prescription or treatment in good time. If you have any symptoms or are unsure, please have this assessed by your optician, optometrist or ophthalmologist.