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Keratoconus, also known as Conical Cornea, is a non-inflammatory condition of the cornea in which there is progressive central thinning of the cornea changing it from dome-shaped to cone-shaped. Keratoconus comes from the Greek word meaning Conical Cornea (Cone shaped- Cornea). The cornea is the clear windshield of the eye and is responsible for refracting most of the light coming into the eye. Therefore, abnormalities of the cornea can severely affect the way we see the world, including simple tasks such as: driving, watching TV, or reading a book.

Keratoconus is not a blinding disorder, per se, but does result in a greatly increasing near-sightedness (things far away are out of focus) and irregular astigmatism (things look tilted) that can significantly distort your vision. It is almost always bilateral (affecting both eyes).

It is a slowly progressive disorder, taking years to develop, and may halt at any stage from mild to severe.

The actual incidence of Keratoconus is not known. It is not one of the most common of eye diseases, but it is by no means rare. It has been estimated to occur in 1 out of every 2,000 persons in the general population. The disease usually shows up in young people at puberty or in their late teen's. It is found in all parts of the United States and the rest of the world. It has no known significant geographic, cultural or social pattern.

Keratoconus means "cone-shaped cornea"; a normal cornea is rounded, but a keratoconic one bulges outward.

Causes of keratoconus are unclear. A genetic link may exist, as you may find several keratoconics within an extended family.

The onset of keratoconus occurs slowly. Myopia and astigmatism also accompany this disease, so blurred and distorted vision result. Glare and light sensitivity may also be noticeable. Keratoconics often have prescription changes each time they visit their eyecare practitioner. Diagnosis of keratoconus may be delayed if the practitioner is not familiar with the early-stage patient complaints of the disease. Early signs of keratoconus are not always clear cut, so diagnosis may come some time after the disease appears.

In the mildest form of keratoconus, glasses or soft contact lenses may improve your vision. But as the disease progresses and the cornea thins and changes shape even more, these options are no longer acceptable for clear vision.

Rigid gas permeable contact lenses are the next correction method of choice. The firmer material of a rigid contact lens holds the cornea in place better than a soft contact lens. Fitting contact lenses on a keratoconic cornea is delicate and time consuming. Be prepared for frequent return visits to fine tune the fit and the prescription. The process will begin again when the cornea thins and distorts even more, altering the contact lens fit and prescription needed for clear, comfortable vision.

Sometimes the keratoconic cornea can't tolerate a contact lens, or contact lenses are no longer providing acceptable vision. The next step is a cornea transplant, also called a penetrating keratoplasty. Frequently even after a transplant, glasses or contact lenses are still required for clear vision.

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Disclaimer: Any information displayed here is just for educational purposes, and may not be taken as an expert advice and should not be applied in life without consulting your eye doctor/specialist. We here by take no responsiblity of the accuracy of the above content as they have been taken from various sources.

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Keratoconus