👁️ Keratoconus – Overview
Keratoconus is a progressive eye condition where the normally round cornea thins and bulges outward into a cone shape. This irregular shape distorts vision and can cause significant visual impairment.
⚙️ Causes
- Exact cause unknown, but likely a combination of genetic and environmental factors
- Eye rubbing and certain conditions like allergies may worsen it
📋 Symptoms
- Blurred or distorted vision
- Increased sensitivity to light and glare
- Frequent changes in eyeglass prescription
- Eye strain and headaches
- Double vision or ghost images
🩺 Diagnosis
- Corneal topography: maps the shape of the cornea
- Slit-lamp examination
- Measurement of corneal thickness (pachymetry)
💊 Treatment
- Early stages:
- Glasses or soft contact lenses
- Rigid gas-permeable (RGP) or scleral contact lenses for better vision correction
- Progressive keratoconus:
- Corneal cross-linking (CXL) to strengthen corneal tissue and slow progression
- Advanced cases:
- Intacs (corneal implants) to reshape the cornea
- Corneal transplant (keratoplasty) if vision is severely affected
⚠️ Complications
- Severe vision loss if untreated
- Corneal scarring
🛡️ Management
- Avoid eye rubbing
- Regular monitoring by an eye specialist
- Early treatment to slow progression