What you need to know
Keratoconus affects approximately 2 in 100,000 people annually. It usually manifests during adolescence and common symptoms include gradual blurring and fluctuating vision, increasing irregular astigmatism, intolerance to contact lens, glare and halos.
The exact cause of Keratoconus is debatable. Hormonal changes during puberty and enzymatic abnormalities resulting in cornea tissue degradation and weakening of the cornea structures have been proposed as likely causes.
Keratoconus can primarily arise with no specific causative factors (~0.4%) and there may be a slight hereditary predisposition (~10% AD). It can also manifest secondary to ocular conditions (e.g. Retinitis Pigmentosa) or systemic conditions such as connective tissue disorders (e.g. Marfan’s syndrome), chromosomal abnormalities (e.g. Down syndrome) and cutaneous disorders (e.g. atopic dermatitis).
The treatment options of Keratoconus are classified into non-surgical and surgical options.
1Kennedy RH, Bourne WM, Dyer JA. A 48-year clinical and epidemiological study of Keratoconus. Am J Ophthalmol. 1986 Mar;101(3):267-73
If you feel you suffer from keratoconus, contact Eagle Eye Centre today to discuss your treatment options. Remember, the early detection of this disease is essential to stopping the progression. Keratoconus does not have have a cure, only treatments to stop progression.