Keratoconus is a disease of the cornea. The cornea is the clear part of the front of the eye. The purpose of the cornea is to focus the light as it enters the eye. In a healthy cornea, the light passes through it in a regular manner and is eventually focused on the retina for clear vision. Keratoconus is when the shape of the cornea is more like a cone than a sphere. This is caused by a weakening of the structure of the cornea. The result is a protruding cornea that is thinned and deformed. When you have keratoconus, the light focused by the cornea is irregular and causes a blurry image on the retina.
What are the symptoms and treatments?
As the cornea steepens in a conical shape, the first effect will typically be the blurry vision. In the early stages of the disease, this is still able to be corrected by glasses or contact lenses. As the disease progresses, more rigid contact lenses may become necessary in order to correct the vision. Eventually, a cornea transplant may be necessary.
Who is at risk of keratoconus?
If you have a family history of keratoconus you are more likely to develop the disease. Also, people with certain inherited genetic diseases such as Ehlers-Danlos syndrome, Down syndrome, Leber’s congenital amaurosis, or osteogenesis imperfecta are also more likely to develop keratoconus.
For more information on hyperopia or any other disorder of the eye, contact our eye doctors at the location nearest you.