Keratoconus

Keratoconus is a condition that affects the cornea; the clear area in the front of the eye.  Learn how Werner Optometry can help address your symptoms.

What is Keratoconus

The cornea of patients suffering from keratonconus becomes steep and thin, forming a cone-like bulge. This is called ectasia. In severe instances, scarring can occur which can lead to corneal transplantation. The cornea acts as a lens, so an irregular curvature of the cornea leads to distorted and blurred vision that in some cases is not correctable by glasses. Quality of life becomes affected due to daily visual tasks becoming difficult.

Keratoconus typically affects both eyes, starting in the teenage years. Each eye will progress separately at its own rate. The periods in which progression takes place can also vary. Some need surgery urgently due to rapid development while others can have long periods of stability.

Keratoconus Signs & Symptoms

Some of the most common symptoms of keratoconus are:

• Blurred vision
• Increased light sensitivity
• Squinting
• Double vision out of one eye
• Ghost images
• Halo-ing around light sources, along with mild ocular irritation

Vision becomes more blurred as the condition worsens even if you are wearing contact lenses or glasses.

Keratoconus does not cause acute inflammation and redness. Therefore, it can go undiagnosed for years. Diagnosis will need the use of corneal topography but acutely, a doctor may notice subtle corneal structure changes. Patient symptoms as well as irregular reflexes on retinoscopy can help in the initial diagnostics.

You can learn more about the signs and symptoms in the downloadable guide below.

Keratoconus Causes

The exact cause of keratoconus is not known. Common theories on causation and correlation include:

• Frequent eye rubbing
• Suffering from atopic/allergic conditions
• Genetics (10% of individuals with keratoconus have a family member with the condition)
• Down’s syndrome

Keratoconus Treatment

Rigid gas permeable (RGP) contact lenses are the standard of care for keratoconus. Their rigid design allows for the lens to produce a new, regular, spherical refracting surface, improving the irregular optics of the eye and providing drastically improved vision. The team at Werner Optometry has extensive experience with many different RGP designs and can find the appropriate option that will work best for you!

The standard fro treating keratoconus is rigid gas permeable contact lenses (RGP). Rigidity in the design makes it possible to develop a new, spherical, refracting surface. This will help to treat the irregular optics of the eye and ultimately, improve vision.

The providers at Werner Optometry will work with you to find the best option of RGP lenses to improve your visual quality of life. Contact us today to learn more!