Keratoconus happens to be an eye condition that causes the cornea to become thin and cone-shaped. The bulging of the cornea can lead to vision distortion and if left untreated for a long time, it can also cause permanent blindness. It is a progressive, degenerative disorder that can range from mild to severe.

Keratoconus usually occurs during the teenage years however, it can also start in the childhood years. In this condition, the cornea shape changes over many years but the change is more rapid in younger patients.

What exactly is Keratoconus?

The outer lens of the eye, the cornea is dome-shaped like a ball. When the structure of the cornea is not strong enough, it bulges outward and this condition is known as Keratoconus.

There are tiny protein fibres in the eye known as collagen that keep the cornea in place. When the fibres become weak, the cornea starts to lose its shape and adopts a shape similar to that of a cone.

Symptoms of Keratoconus

As the shape of the cornea changes to a cone in this condition, the front expands which makes vision near-sighted. Objects that are far away appear blurred.

The common symptoms associated with Keratoconus are:

•With viewed with one eye, there is double vision

•Light streaks

•Blurry vision

•Bright lights seem to have halos around them

Effects of untreated Keratoconus

Without proper treatment, Keratoconus usually progresses over time which can lead to various side effects. In some cases, untreated keratoconus can even lead to permanent vision loss. While in most cases patients usually don’t go blind but the vision gets worse and they’re more likely to experience pain in the eyes. 

The other side effect of keratoconus is corneal scarring which makes it difficult for patients to wear contact lenses. Eyeglasses also prove to be of little help in such scenarios. 

Treatment of Keratoconus

The treatment of Keratoconus usually depends on the progression and stage of the disorder. During the early stages, nearsightedness and blurry vision can be tackled to some extent with prescription eyewear. An ophthalmologist can suggest different options or procedures to treat the condition, some of which are:

Soft contact lenses or eyeglasses: In the case of mild Keratoconus, soft contact lenses or prescription eyeglasses can correct distorted and blurry vision. While contact lenses and glasses cannot stop the progression of the Keratoconus, it is crucial to get the eyes checked on a timely basis to take care of the changing vision. 

Specialised lenses: Hybrid lenses are soft on the outer ring and hard in the middle and are often recommended for Keratoconus. Apart from that, scleral lenses are also recommended that go over the cornea without touching it. Such lenses are beneficial in treating vision issues related to this disorder.

Intacs: Intacs are corneal implants, surgically placed into the eyes to reshape and flatten the cornea. They are used for treating Myopia and Astigmatism related to Keratoconus.

Collagen cross-linking: In this procedure, eye drops are used along with a special ultraviolet light to make the cornea stronger and keep it from bulging forward. 

Corneal transplant: In advanced cases of keratoconus where the cornea is severely damaged, a transplant surgery to replace the affected cornea with a donor cornea is done by an ophthalmologist. The patient may require contact lenses afterwards.