Keratoconus

What Is Keratoconus? - Causes, Symptoms and Treatment in India

Keratoconus is an eye condition that affects the cornea, the clear front surface of the eye. This short explains what happens to the cornea and how this can affect your vision.

What happens in keratoconus

• The cornea thins. The cornea is the transparent front part of the eye. In keratoconus, it progressively thins and weakens.
• It changes shape. Instead of its normal round shape, the cornea begins to bulge outwards into a cone shape.
• Vision is affected. This irregular shape prevents light from being focused correctly on the retina, causing distorted and blurry vision.
• It is progressive. The condition usually starts during puberty or the late teens and can progress over 10 to 20 years.

Symptoms and diagnosis

• Early symptoms. These can include slightly blurred vision, increased sensitivity to light and glare, and a need for frequent changes in eyeglass prescription.
• Later symptoms. As the condition advances, you may experience worsening vision, ghosting, or multiple images.
• Diagnosis. An ophthalmologist can diagnose keratoconus during a routine eye exam. They may use corneal topography, a computerised mapping tool, to see the shape of your cornea.
• Both eyes affected. Keratoconus usually affects both eyes, though one eye may be more affected than the other.

How is keratoconus managed

Treatment depends on the severity of the condition and how quickly it is progressing.

• Early stages. Glasses or standard soft contact lenses can often correct mild vision problems.
• Intermediate stages. As the cornea becomes more irregular, specialised hard contact lenses or scleral lenses are usually needed to provide clear vision.
• Corneal cross-linking. This is a procedure designed to stop the condition from getting worse. It uses UV light and vitamin drops to strengthen the corneal tissue.
• Corneal transplant. In a small number of cases with severe scarring or when contact lenses cannot be tolerated, a corneal transplant may be an option.

The most suitable way to manage keratoconus is decided on a case-by-case basis. An ophthalmologist can recommend the best course of action after a full examination and a review of your reports.