Keratoconus is a vision disorder which happens when the round cornea or the frontal part of your eyes become thin or cone-shaped. In turn, this abnormal shape prevents light from entering your eyes and being focused on the retina. In turn, this distorts your vision. In this blog, your source for eyeglasses and eye exams, Eyes on Norbeck, gives you a basic rundown on keratoconus.
Causes and Risk Factors of Keratoconus
Heredity plays an important factor in having keratoconus. In fact, one in 10 people that have keratoconus have a close family member with this visual disorder. It’s also possible to get keratoconus from physical causes, such as vigorous eye-rubbing, especially when it’s aggressive “knuckling” eye rubbing. Other pre-existing medical conditions can contribute to this, such as asthma, allergies and retinitis pigmentosa.
Symptoms
In the early phases, your optometrist will tell you that it starts with slight blurring or vision distortion, and sensitivity to light. These appear in one’s early 20s. It could progress for another decade or two, and slow down in progression. As it progresses, the cornea bulges and the vision gets distorted even more. This swelling can cause a sudden decrease in vision caused by the cornea’s protrusion causing cracks to develop.
Treatment
The usage of eyeglasses or soft contact lenses can be used to treat early phases of keratoconus. As it progresses, rigid gas permeable contact lenses can be used to correct vision as needed. The lenses must be comfortably fitted for one’s eyes, and lens changes should be done accordingly to maintain good vision. In a few cases, corneal transplants are required, especially in severe cases.
Do you need new eyeglasses or a computer eye exam? Let Eyes on Norbeck handle your eye care needs. Call us at (301) 238-7199 or fill out our contact form to schedule an appointment. We serve patients in Rockville, MD, and the nearby communities.
