Keratoconus is when your cornea begins to bulge forward. Your vision may be normal, but as the condition worsens, so does your vision. This is why it is essential to visit an optometrist if you are noticing any symptoms so he or she can treat you right away. If you are in the Dallas, Fort Worth, Lubbock Central, Lubbock South, or McKinney area and looking for an optometry office, visit us here at The Vision Center Eye Associates PLCC. We can recommend the right course of treatment for you, whether dealing with glaucoma or keratoconus.
What Is Keratoconus?
Keratoconus changes the shape of your cornea from round to cone shape. It is a progressive eye disease. Both eyes are almost always affected. The severity of the condition will vary from person to person. It also is usually worse in one eye than the other.
Do We Know What Causes Keratoconus?
We only know that it develops when protein fibers in the eye begin to weaken. This results in the cornea losing its shape. One cause of this weakness to take place may be caused by free radicals in the eyes. Patients with keratoconus do not produce enough antioxidants that are built to fight these free radicals off. The weakness in the eye may also be a result of constant eye rubbing. It may also be genetically related.
What Are the Symptoms of Keratoconus?
Blurred vision is the most apparent symptom present with keratoconus. Patients with the condition will develop severe myopia with a very extreme case of astigmatism. This is what causes blurry vision, which is more than just your normal blur. It is more like distorted vision. Also, patients may experience halos, especially at nighttime. When looking at words, shadows may hover over them or even double. Those who have experienced scarring on their cornea may experience a decrease in contrast sensitivity and an increase in haziness. Other symptoms consist of shadows, ghosting, and vision distortion that not even glasses or contact lenses will be able to treat.
How Is Keratoconus Treated?
There are both surgical and non-surgical treatment options for keratoconus. Non-surgical treatment consists of eyeglasses for those who are experiencing a very early case of keratoconus. Soft contact lenses, rigid gas-permeable lenses, hybrid contact lenses, and scleral contact lenses are additional non-surgical treatment options available to patients. However, it depends on the stage of the condition. Surgical treatments consist of corneal cross-linking, INTACS corneal inserts, implantable Collamer lens, photorefractive keratectomy, or corneal transplants. These are all in-office procedures performed at an optometry office or by a corneal specialist.
Contact Us for Quality Eye Care Treatment
Contact us here at The Vision Center Eye Associates PLLC in Dallas, Fort Worth, Lubbock Central, Lubbock South, and McKinney to schedule an appointment today. Our team is committed to providing patients the eye care they need to ensure eye and vision health. We look forward to helping you.