KERATOCONUS
What is a keratoconus?
Keratoconus is when the front part of the eye or cornea becomes
irregular in shape due to thinning. There is no known cause but
in some cases other family members may also have keratoconus.
What are the symptoms?
Patients notice progressive distortion of their vision over many
years, usually starting in their teens and may progress into their
30’s. One eye is often affected more than the other. Other
symptoms include irritation, glare and/or photophobia.
What
are the treatments available?
Initially glasses or contact lenses can be prescribed to correct
the distortion. Certain types of contact lenses can be specially
designed for the individual patient. If lens correction is not suitable
then corneal transplantation is possible to correct the abnormal
corneal shape. Modern techniques greatly reduce the risks of complications
such as rejection. Other options such as collagen cross-linking
and intra-corneal inlays are available, but require more research
to further define their place in management.
