Identifying Keratoconus And Seeking Treatment On Time

By Author: Pratham Singh
Total Articles: 12
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Keratoconus is an eye condition in which the cornea which is round in shape begins to bulge into a cone -like shape. This shape doesn't allow the light to enter the eyes in the correct manner and interferes with the vision. Keratoconus can affect one or both eyes at the same time. It starts off during teenage or in the early 20's.
Keratoconus does not occur immediately, it takes a while. Most patients who suffer from Keratoconus also suffer from Myopia. Unlike Myopia where a patient can use the same eyeglasses for a long period of time, Keratoconus patients need to change their eyeglasses more often.
Keratoconus is caused due to the weakening of the corneal tissue. The tissues in the cornea get weak due to an imbalance of enzymes in the body. Keratoconus is a genetic condition which can affect more than one member in each family. If you have siblings or parents who suffer from this condition, you need to talk to your eye doctor about the possibilities and risks for Keratoconus. The sooner Keratoconus is detected the sooner a doctor can begin treatment. Most doctors often mistake Keratoconus for Myopia and this can ...
... waste a lot of time thus causing more tissue damage.
Apart from being a genetic disorder, Keratoconus can also be caused due to constant eye infections, rubbing the eyes, badly fitted contact lenses and eye irritation. It is thus advised to visit an eye doctor who is experienced and qualified. A person who visits their eye doctor on a regular basis is less likely to suffer from major eye conditions in comparison to one who doesn’t.
MIld cases of Keratoconus can be corrected with the use of soft contact lenses or eyeglasses. However, since this is a progressive condition you need to visit your eye doctor from time to time and change your eyeglasses or contact lenses regularly.
People who suffer from moderate or advanced Keratoconus can opt in for the following treatment options
• Custom soft contact lenses
• Gas permeable contact lenses
• "Piggybacking" contact lenses
• Hybrid contact lenses
• Scleral and semi-scleral lenses
• Intacs
• Corneal crosslinking
• Topography-guided conductive keratoplasty
• Corneal transplant
With the advancement in the medical field, there are a number of contact lens options that one can choose from in order to treat Keratoconus. It’s best to let the eye doctor prescribe which contact lenses are best suited for your condition.
Eye Surgery is the last resort which is usually advised for patients who suffer from severe Keratoconus. There are patients with moderate Keratoconus who can opt in for surgery in order to get rid of wearing eyeglasses or contact lenses.
Remember regular eye check-ups can help you avoid major eye conditions. These check-ups help detect various eye problems at an early stage and thus it becomes easy to control and treat these conditions. The longer you wait, the more intense the damage, so don’t ignore the slight signs that your eyes could have a problem, visit your eye doctor today.