By Justus Scout
Keratoconus is an eye condition that is progressive and results in thinning of the cornea.
The cornea is the clear part of your eyes. It’s your window to the world, and it helps you focus. Loss of clarity or vision can indicate a keratoconus eye condition, and hence it’s crucial to consult your vision expert for the eye check-up. Injury or frequent rubbing of the eyes can easily damage a weakened cornea.
Keratoconus
Have you experienced blurred vision at any time? Do you play any sport and need to wear sports glasses regularly? If so, the chances are very high that you or someone you know suffers from keratoconus. The condition causes the cornea to become thin and bulge. It can be a severe condition, and the surprising thing is that many people who suffer from it do not realize they have it. Here are common symptoms of the keratoconus eye condition.
1. Discomfort in The Eyes
The keratoconus symptoms can touch a range of varying levels, and sufferers usually complain that a foreign object is present in the eye, along with redness and blurred vision. As the disease advances, the symptoms will intensify as well as affect your visual capabilities. The pain can increase as astigmatism gets worse, so at times it can feel as though a needle or pin is being inserted directly into the cornea
Keratoconus eye condition is a degenerative eye disease and probably one of the most devastating and life-transforming conditions that can happen to anyone. It is an uncomfortable condition that you should seek treatment for as soon as possible.
2. Progressive Thinning and Clouding of the Cornea
Keratoconus condition causes the cornea to thin progressively and lose its shape. With keratoconus, light entering the eye is distorted, resulting in blurry vision. Characterized by cone-shaped bulges on the surface of the cornea, keratoconus usually happens gradually during early adulthood.
The condition is due to the misalignment of the cornea, the clear part on the front of your eye. Keratoconus occurs as a result of weakening or thinning of the tissue at the center of the cornea. It first shows itself by causing blurring, making it hard to read, drive or work on a computer. It may lead to headaches and double vision.
3. Blurred Vision
Keratoconus eye condition is a non-infectious degenerative eye disorder that affects the cornea’s shape or the clear dome covering of the iris. Keratoconus can cause significant impairment in a person’s vision and eventually may lead to blindness. Usually, the keratoconus eye condition starts around adolescence and often progresses throughout a person’s lifetime.
The cornea is the transparent covering protecting your eyes from external factors and focuses as you view objects. Hence, when the keratoconus condition develops, it gradually deteriorates your vision to a greater extent causing blurred images. However, seeking treatment early from a qualified doctor may stop the disease from worsening.
4. Increased Light Sensitivity
Another common keratoconus symptom is the increased sensitivity to light. Keratoconus patients may experience multiple vision-threatening symptoms including, but not limited to: increased light sensitivity, glare, scratchy or foreign feeling eyes, and sometimes vision loss. A patient may complain of seeing halos or blurred vision with harsh light exposure.
The Keratoconus condition makes it hard for the light to pass through the front-facing part of the eye, resulting in decreased visual function. Your eye care professional may be able to treat your keratoconus with medications or surgery.
5. Reflex to Squint and Rubbing Eyes
Keratoconus creates distortions in your vision as well as the reflex to squint and rub your eyes, a condition in which a normal response to environmental irritants or stress is exaggerated and creates ocular discomfort. The reflex from rubbing eyes is a condition that causes an individual’s eyes to become dry and sore. Rubbing the eyes to provide relief for this condition does more harm than good. Hence it’s crucial to seek medical treatment for your eyes immediately.
Conclusion
When treating the keratoconus eye condition, the primary goals are to delay further worsening of your vision and improve your ability to function daily. To do this, your doctor will most likely recommend a combination of treatments. Treatments may include wearing a unique contact lens or glasses, taking certain medications, and receiving specific eye treatments.
