What Is Keratoconus and How Is It Treated?

The eye is a complex organ with several layers. The first layer, the conjunctiva, covers the white part of the eye. The cornea is the second dome-shaped layer of tissue. It covers the pupil and iris and helps focus light into the pupil and lens. A progressive condition known as keratoconus can affect the cornea, causing it to lose its shape. 

What Is Keratoconus?

People see through the cornea, which typically has a symmetrical round shape. But sometimes, the structure of the cornea is unable to retain its shape from losing strength. Over time, the normal curvature of the eye’s surface can bulge outward. Eye care professionals call this keratoconus. 

Tiny protein fibers in the eye known as collagen help hold the cornea in place. When they weaken, these fibers cannot maintain their shape, causing the cornea to get more cone-like. Essentially, keratoconus is an eye disorder that causes the cornea to transform from a balanced dome to a lopsided or asymmetric dome. 

The function of the cornea is to refract light into the pupil. When light passes through a lopsided cornea, it can cause blurriness and distortion in one’s vision. Keratoconus often develops during the teenage years or young adulthood. It tends to worsen progressively for one or two decades before stabilizing.

Keratoconus is often more aggressive in kids than in adults. Symptoms may first develop in one eye. But in most cases, it affects both eyes. According to researchers, about one in 2,000 people suffer from this eye disorder. However, some studies suggest that the prevalence may be as high as one in 500 people.

Signs and Symptoms

A thinning of the cornea is the main sign of keratoconus. The thinning disrupts the cornea’s natural curvature. In its early stages, this condition may not present any symptoms. But as it progresses, the asymmetry can cause mild to significant vision distortion. 

Common early signs of keratoconus include the following:

• Vogt’s striae, which are vertical lines observed on the cornea. They usually disappear when you apply firm pressure over your eye.
• A Fleischer ring, which is a brown ring around the cornea.
• Rizzuti sign, a steeply curved reflection more noticeable when you shine a light on the side of the cornea.

Other symptoms you may experience include eye irritation, corneal swelling, eyestrain, light sensitivity, poor night vision, myopia, and irregular astigmatism. 

Causes of Keratoconus

Researchers are yet to understand why people develop this eye disorder. It may develop for no apparent reason. However, most eye care experts believe that both genetic and environmental factors play a role in its development. 

Diagnosis

To diagnose this disorder, your eye doctor will examine your family and medical history before conducting a thorough eye exam. During the examination, your eye doctor may look at the overall appearance of your eyes. 

The process will probably involve the examination of your eye movements, visual field, and visual acuity. The eye doctor may also perform a corneal topography test to examine eye changes that are not otherwise visible.

Treatment

Keratoconus treatment focuses on stopping changes to the cornea’s shape and maintaining visual acuity. Your treatment will vary depending on the severity of your condition and its speed of progression. Treatment options include prescription contact lenses or eyeglasses, surgery, and collagen cross-linking.

To learn more about keratoconus, visit Battle Born Eye Care at our office in Reno, Nevada. You can call (775) 360-6446 today to schedule an appointment.