Always consult your doctor to confirm a diagnosis of Keratoconus.
The earliest signs of keratoconus are usually blurred vision and frequent changes in eye glass prescription, or vision that cannot be corrected with glasses. Symptoms of keratoconus generally begin in late teenage years or early twenties, but can start at any time.
Other symptoms include:
- Increased light sensitivity
- Difficultly driving at night
- A halo around lights and ghosting (especially at night)
- Eye strain
- Headaches and general eye pain
- Eye irritation, excessive eye rubbing
Keratoconus, especially in the early stages can be difficult to diagnose and all of the above symptoms could be associated with other eye problems. Simply recognizing symptoms does not by itself diagnose keratoconus. Keratoconus requires a diagnosis from a competent eye doctor trained not only in recognizing the symptoms but also observing signs of keratoconus through direct measurement as well as inspection of the cornea at a microscopic level using a slit lamp.
Keratoconus Diagnosis & Treatment:
Keratoconus can usually be diagnosed with a slit-lamp examination. The classic signs of keratoconus that the doctor will see when examining your eyes include:
▪ Corneal thinning
▪ Fleischer’s ring (an iron colored ring surrounding the cone)
▪ Vogt’s striae (stress lines caused by corneal thinning)
▪ Apical scarring (scarring at the apex of the cone)
The doctor will also measure the curvature of the cornea. This is done by:
▪ Keratometry: an instrument that shines a pattern of light onto the cornea. The shape of the reflection of the pattern tells the doctor how the eye is curved.
▪ Corneal topography: a computerized instrument that make three-dimensional “maps” of the cornea
Corneal topography has facilitated the diagnosis of keratoconus, helping establish the diagnosis earlier, follow progression more accurately and differentiate keratoconus from other conditions.
Keratoconus Treatment Options
Treatment options for keratoconus focus on correcting the distorted vision caused by the thinning and bulging of the cornea.
Eyeglasses or soft contact lenses may be used to correct the mild nearsightedness and astigmatism caused by keratoconus in its earliest stage, however at some point a Rigid Gas Permeable (RGP) contact lens will correct KC vision better. Rigid Gas Permeable Contact Lenses Rigid Gas Permeable Contact Lenses (abbreviated to RGP or GP) will correct vision as KC progresses. The rigid lens material enables the lens to vault over the cornea, replacing the cornea’s irregular shape with a smooth, uniform refracting surface to improve vision.
Intacs plastic rings
Intacs are inserted into the mid layer of the cornea to flatten it, changing the shape and location of the cone.
Corneal Crosslinking
CXL is a new treatment option in FDA clinical trials in the USA. The goal of this procedure is to is to stop progression of the keratoconus.
Corneal Transplant Surgery
Corneal Transplant Surgery is necessary in very advanced keratoconus due to scarring, extreme thinning or contact lens intolerance.
Learn about the current treatment options for Keratoconus which focus on correcting vision cause my the bulging and thinning of the cornea.
Written by: Catherine Warren
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