Keratoconus

What is Keratoconus?

Keratoconus is a lesser-known eye disease in which the cornea (outer, transparent dome-shaped layer of your eye) bulges away from your eye and thins. If left untreated, keratoconus can cause serious vision problems.

Keratoconus Risk Factors

Although exact causes are largely unknown – certain demographics tend to be at higher risk of developing keratoconus:

• People with a family history of keratoconus
• People who frequently rub their eyes (common in patients with seasonal allergies)
• People with certain underlying conditions: Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome, asthma, retinitis pigmentosa, hay fever, and Down syndrome

Keratoconus Symptoms

Symptoms of keratoconus generally begin to appear in adolescence and include blurred vision, sensitivity to light, glare, distorted vision, frequent changes in vision prescription, and sudden clouding of the vision or sudden worsening of vision.

It’s important to visit a keratoconus specialist as soon as possible if you experience any of the signs or symptoms of keratoconus.

Keratoconus Treatment

The earlier you are diagnosed with keratoconus, the more treatment options you have available to you. Treatment serves two primary positions: slowing the progression of the disease and improving your vision. Common treatments include:

• Specialized keratoconus contacts, eyeglasses, hybrid lenses, scleral lenses, or piggyback lenses
• Corneal cross-linking, a procedure that can slow or halt the progression of keratoconus
• Cornea transplant surgeries like penetrating keratoplasty or deep anterior lamella keratoplasty (DALK)

Simply request an appointment to schedule your consultation with a keratoconus specialist here at Kleiman Evangelista Eye Centers.