Keratoconus Evaluations And Treatment Specialist

What is Keratoconus?

Keratoconus is progressive vision disorder that causes your cornea to thin out and then grow in a cone shape. This prevents light from reaching your retina, which may distort your vision.

What are the Symptoms of Keratoconus?

The most common symptoms of keratoconus include:

• Frequent increases in eye prescription
• Blurry vision
• Light sensitivity
• Vision distortions like wavy lines
• Astigmatism
• Eye swelling

Symptoms are progressive, and the progression generally occurs throughout adolescence and early adulthood.

What Causes Keratoconus?

The cause of keratoconus isn't definitively known at this time. However, there may be a genetic connection as around one in 10 keratoconus sufferers has a parent who also has keratoconus.

How is Keratoconus Diagnosed?

Your optometrist is often able to diagnose keratoconus through a comprehensive eye exam and detailed medical history. While keratoconus is often evident due to the unique cornea shape it causes, in some cases your optometrist may need to confirm the diagnosis with additional tests such as:

• Eye Refraction Test: An eye refraction test evaluates your vision and helps your optometrist see eye issues in detail.
• Slit-Lamp Exam: In a slit-lamp exam, your optometrist uses a specialized microscope to view your eye's surface.
• Corneal Mapping: In corneal mapping, your optometrist uses high-tech equipment to record images that form a map of the cornea.
• Keratometry Cornea Test: In a keratometry test, your optometrist uses light reflection to evaluate the shape of your cornea.

How is Keratoconus Treated?

Treatment of keratoconus depends on your symptoms and on the progression of the disease. There are three main types of treatment for keratoconus, including:

• Rigid Contact Lenses: Rigid gas permeable contact lenses are the most common treatment for keratoconus. You'll wear the lenses mainly for vision correction, but the rigid lens reshapes your cornea at the same time.
• Intacs®: Intacs are plastic corneal rings that an eye surgeon implants. Intacs help reshape the cornea into a round shape again.
• Corneal Transplant: Your optometrist may suggest a corneal transplant if rigid contact lenses or Intacs aren't successful in reshaping your cornea. In this surgery, an eye surgeon removes your damaged natural cornea and replaces it with a donor cornea.  

If you suspect you might have keratoconus, call or use online booking to schedule an appointment today.