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What is Keratoconus?

It's believed that the eyes are the window to your soul (actually, anatomically speaking, the cornea is the window to your soul). The dome-shaped cornea refracts and redirects light into the right parts of the eye. With so many functions, the cornea is certainly the most overachieving part of your face. So, what happens when the window to your soul (the cornea, remember?) is broken? You probably have something called keratoconus, a condition where the cornea bulges and causes blurred vision—kind of like looking through a dirty window. It also causes light sensitivity and—unless treated— worsens over 10 years. 

Understanding keratoconus  

Keratoconus is a progressive long-term eye condition that affects the cornea. 

Definition and overview  

The cornea acts like a camera lens (some camera models are better than others!) and plays a major role in vision, especially when managing light (it has the major job of bending, refracting, and focusing light). Keratoconus is when the cornea thins out due to lack of collagen and stretches into a cone shape, changing the eye's structure.  

What causes keratoconus?  

Typically, it starts in childhood and can be rectified with glasses or contact lenses if caught early. Because the disease is progressive, you might need a cornea transplant if not corrected when younger. The main cause of keratoconus is the loss of collagen in the eye area, caused by an imbalance from birth.  

Other contributing factors include: 

  • Eye allergies  

  • Too much scratching of your eye 

  • Connective tissue disorders  

Symptoms of keratoconus  

If your vision is blurry for a few hours, don't assume you have keratoconus. It's probably an eyelash.  

Identifying signs and symptoms 

Keratoconus symptoms (mentioned below) can get progressively worse over time. 

  • Inability to wear contact lenses 

  • Symptoms affect the vision in both eyes and range from blurred vision to light sensitivity 

  • Straight lines seem distorted and wavy 

Progression of symptoms  

If you procrastinate about getting things sorted (I mean, how long did it take you to read this article?), then you've probably taken too long to get your eyes sorted. Because you lose collagen as you age, the symptoms of keratoconus will get progressively worse. The disease affects your vision and spatial awareness, which can impact activities such as driving at night, reading, light sensitivity, and playing sports.  

Types of contacts for keratoconus  

Your optometrist will be able to prescribe the correct contact lens for your eyes.  

Specialized contact lenses for keratoconus  

While comfortable, the standard soft contact lenses won't work for those with the disease. Keratoconus requires a more rigid lens that provides stability, vision correction, and lubrication. The four main options are gas-permeable (RGP), scleral, hybrid, and piggyback lenses.  

Choosing the right contacts  

RGP lenses can shift out of place if you blink excessively, which means alternate options like the scleral lens could provide a better fit as they're wider in diameter and sit on the sclera (white of the eye). This is for more advanced stages of keratoconus. Other alternatives include hybrid lenses that are rigid but have good oxygen flow and piggyback lenses— a soft lens with a rigid lens on top.  

Treatment options for keratoconus  

You see (get it?), if the disease has progressed, it might be time for an alternate treatment plan.  

Nonsurgical treatments  

Corneal cross-linking and Intacs are your two nonsurgical options to help repair keratoconus. Intacs are a fitted curve device designed to flatten the curve, while corneal cross-linking is a method designed to strengthen the cornea to prevent further disfigurement (it's a combination of eye drops and UV light).   

Surgical options 

For advanced and serious cases of the disease, corneal transplant surgery designed to replace damaged parts of the cornea might be your only option.  

Living with keratoconus  

These are common tips for managing your symptoms of keratoconus. 

Managing day-to-day life  

Prevent your keratoconus from getting worse by not rubbing your eyes, wearing sunglasses when UV rays are strong, and following a daily eye care routine.  

Long-term management  

Make regular appointments with your eye care professional to monitor progression and ensure your contact lenses are the right type. To keep your eyes healthy, use artificial tears/eye drops for lubrication.  

Get advice from your eye care professional 

Each person's experience of keratoconus is different, which is why you need a tailored treatment plan from your eye doctor. It's important to monitor symptoms of blurry eyes, sensitivity to light, and other ongoing eye issues. You can purchase keratoconus contact lenses such as RGP, scleral, hybrid, or piggyback lenses from 1-800 Contacts. 

FAQs 

Here are three of the most commonly asked questions about keratoconus. 

How is keratoconus diagnosed?  

The condition is diagnosed through a series of specialized eye exams performed by an eye care professional. 

How often should someone with keratoconus see an eye doctor?  

You can do an online eye exam at any stage to test your eyes, but you should see an eye doctor annually.  

Can keratoconus lead to blindness?  

No, but it can severely impact your vision if left untreated.