Dr. Lorenzo Cervantes and his team at CT Eye Specialists specialize in the care of patients diagnosed with keratoconus and corneal ectasia after refractive surgery.
What is Keratoconus?
Keratoconus is a non-inflammatory condition of the cornea, in which its typically round shape progressively thins and weakens. This progressive thinning is also known as ectasia.
Keratoconus typically begins in early adolescence. This might continually progress for several decades, and then slow or stabilize in late adulthood. Each eye may be affected differently. It tends to run in families, but appears to have a complex genetic inheritance pattern.
Environmental factors, especially eye rubbing, play a role in its progression. There are also strong associations with other conditions, like severe allergies, Down syndrome, and other collagen vascular disorders.
What are the Symptoms of Keratoconus?
In the early stages of keratoconus, people might experience:
- Blurred vision
- Sensitivity to light
- Frequent changes in glasses prescription, especially from increasing levels of near sightedness and astigmatism
As keratoconus continues to advance, glasses or soft contact lenses alone might not be able to provide clear vision. With worsening irregular astigmatism, special contact lenses, like rigid gas permeable or scleral lenses, might be necessary to see well.
In severe keratoconus, people might experience:
- Distorted vision
- Significant blurry vision despite glasses or contact lenses
- Sudden vision loss from corneal swelling
Click here to find out how keratoconus is treated.
