Making Sense of Keratoconus With Our Optometry Team in Woodstock ON
Keratoconus can lead to a variety of symptoms which impair vision. While many people have never heard of this condition, it's more common than you may think, affecting an estimated 1 out of every 2,000 people. At Oxford Optometry, our Woodstock optometrist team—led by Dr. Chris Schellingerhoudt, Dr. Jessica Nguyen, and Dr. Sarah Andreasen—are determined to help people learn about their conditions, including keratoconus, and find effective individualized treatment.
What is Keratoconus?
As mentioned, keratoconus happens when the corneas (the clear dome-shaped film covering your irises) thin and bulge into a conical shape. Genetics and environmental factors are both believed to play a role in its development, which usually starts around puberty and progresses slowly for another 10 to 20 years before stabilizing.
Signs and Symptoms of Keratoconus
Coulyouur or your loved one's vision problems be caused by keratoconus? Here are a few common signs and symptoms:
- Blurry vision that worsens over time (from mild to severe)
- Difficulty seeing faraway objects (nearsightedness) or objects at night
- Photophobia (increased sensitivity to glare and bright lights)
- Double vision
- Needing to change prescriptions frequently
- Discomfort with regular contact lenses
Treatment for Keratoconus With Our Woodstock Optometrist Staff
The first thing our Woodstock optometry team can do for you if you're living with keratoconus is to diagnose your condition (and rule out other ones which may present with similar symptoms). This condition is diagnosable through vision testing, internal and external eye anatomy assessment, and family/personal history.
Once you have a diagnosis, you'll be able to sit down with our optometry team and talk about the treatment options which will work best for you. We offer a variety of approaches based on the latest innovations in keratoconus treatment. These includes:
- Hard to fit contacts, including rigid gas permeable contact lenses or scleral lenses: these help form a fluid-filled reservoir between the lens and corneal surface, correcting the way light refracts (bends) into the eye and improving visual acuity and comfort
- Peri-operative care for people who decide to undergo corneal replacement or other ocular surgeries
Could Your Vision Problems Be Caused by Keratoconus?
Contact Oxford Optometry at (519) 421-3303 if you live near Woodstock, ON and would like to find an effective solution to your vision dysfunction. Whether you have keratoconus or some other ocular disorder, our optometry staff is here to help!