Usually, the cornea is a round, dome-shaped organ. It acquires this shape because of the strong external structure made of collagen and fiber-protein bonds. This dome shape of the cornea ensures that the refraction of light happens correctly, and there are no vision problems, but sometimes, the cornea can lose its circular shape and this can give rise to a vast array of eye conditions. One of them is called Keratoconus.
Keratoconus
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What is Keratoconus?
Keratoconus is a very rare eye condition that occurs when the cornea becomes abnormally thin and bulges outwards in the shape of a cone. When the shape and structure of the cornea change this way, it results in the onset of a variety of conditions like blurred vision and sight distortion.
Keratoconus is primarily caused by the weakening of collagen and fiber-protein bonds in the cornea. While the true cause is not yet known, it can be inherited genetically and also caused by eye rubbing which can make the collagen and fiber-protein bonds weaker. This weakened structure is unable to hold the cornea in a round shape, and the cornea becomes pointed and bulges outwards.
Early detection and treatment are essential to ensure that there is no permanent loss of eyesight. At Advanced Vision Care, we are highly reputed ophthalmologists in the Los Angeles area. We have top-notch technology that can quickly diagnose Keratoconus, allowing us to start treatment early. Contact us to schedule an appointment.
Symptoms of Keratoconus
Typically, Keratoconus can be first observed in patients in their early teens, but in a few cases, children can show symptoms as early as 9 or 10 years of age. These symptoms may continue for a period of 10 years or more, then pausing to resume again at a later date.
For some people, the symptoms of Keratoconus won’t even manifest until their 30s or 40s. It’s this unpredictability of Keratoconus that makes it so dangerous. It’s very easy to miss the indications of the disease and not treat it.
Depending on the shape the cornea takes, Keratoconus can manifest as either myopia or as irregular astigmatism. Our team of specialists have extensive experience treating Keratoconus and they can recognize the early signs of the condition and provide treatment.
That’s why it is important to look for the following symptoms and seek treatment immediately:
- Sudden development of poor vision in one or both eyes.
- Sudden loss of vision in one or both eyes.
- Frequent increase in eyeglass power.
- Halo-rings around people/objects in line-of-sight.
- Blurriness, fuzzy vision, and distortion.
- Double and triple vision.
- Sudden clouding of vision.
- The appearance of streaking lights.
- Night blindness.
How to treat Keratoconus?
If Keratoconus is mild, then corrective contact lenses are prescribed. However, most patients with Keratoconus can be treated with the corneal crosslinking procedure. This will use ultraviolet light technology to strengthen the collagen bonds in the cornea, giving it greater structural strength and stability, halting the process of cornea elongation.
If the condition is very severe, and none of the above treatments are possible, the doctor may recommend a cornea transplant. Our surgery center is one of the most reputed eye surgery clinics in California. You can trust us for safe surgery.
Read More about Corneal Crosslinking
