Is your vision gradually decreasing? This could be Corneal Ectasia!

Do you sometimes feel like your eyesight is gradually decreasing? Maybe you can't see as clearly as before, and your eyes become blue when you look at the light? One reason for this could be a special eye condition. Today we are going to talk about one such condition, which requires a little attention, called corneal ectasia . Don't be afraid, the most important thing is to be aware of this.

What is Corneal Ectasia?

Simply put, corneal ectasia is a group of conditions that affect the cornea (the clear, round part of the front of the eye, like the lens of a camera). What happens in this is that the shape of your cornea gradually changes. The cornea thins and bulges forward. Think of it like a small balloon inflating. This changes the way light enters the eye, causing astigmatism (a refractive error) that can increase over time. As a result, your vision becomes less sharp over time. Most often, this condition affects both eyes, but sometimes it can affect just one eye. In some people, this corneal ectasia can be so mild that it is not even detected by clinical tests. But as this progresses, your vision can become so poor that you can't see well even with glasses or contact lenses. However, serious complications like blindness are very rare, so there's nothing to worry about. However, poor vision can interfere with your daily activities, such as going to work or taking care of your family. Therefore, it's very important to diagnose this condition early and seek the necessary treatment.

What are the types of corneal ectasia?

There are several main types of corneal ectasia . Let's take a look at what they are in simple terms:

Keratoconus

This is the most common type of cataract . In this condition, the cornea thins and gradually bulges forward into a cone-shaped shape. The cornea, which is normally round, becomes cone-shaped. Think of it like the top of an ice cream cone.

Keratoglobus

In this, the entire cornea becomes abnormally thin and bulges forward to accommodate it. The entire cornea may appear bulging, like a large ball.

Pellucid marginal degeneration

In this, you can see a thinning in the lower half of the cornea, like a crescent moon. That thinning causes the cornea to protrude forward from above.

Post-keratorefractive surgery ectasia

This is a bit special. It happens after surgery to correct vision problems like myopia ( nearsightedness).Corneal ectasia . An example is post-LASIK ectasia . It is estimated that about 1 in 166 people who have LASIK eye surgery will develop this condition. It can also occur after other corneal surgeries, such as PRK .

Post-penetrating keratoplasty ectasia

In this case, ectasia occurs as a complication of a cornea transplant . It most often affects people who have had a corneal transplant as a treatment for the condition keratoconus . It can occur in about 1 in 10 people within 10 years of the surgery.

Who is most affected by this situation?

Corneal ectasia can actually affect people of any age and race. It doesn't discriminate between men and women. It can sometimes start in childhood and continue into middle age or even later. The age at which symptoms begin to appear (onset) varies depending on the type:

• Keratoglobus : Usually occurs in childhood or adolescence (age 10s).
• Keratoconus : Early childhood (late 10s to early 20s).
• Pellucid marginal degeneration : In the 20s, 30s, or 40s.
• Post- surgical ectasia : Any time from a few months to years after surgery .

What are the symptoms of Corneal Ectasia?

Corneal ectasia may be asymptomatic in the early stages. However, as the condition progresses, symptoms such as:

• Vision gradually worsens over time.
• Glare when looking at light . Some people say it feels like their eyes are burning.
• Halos: Seeing rings around lights while driving at night.
• Diplopia (double vision) is seeing two images instead of one.

The most common of these symptoms is a gradual deterioration of vision over the years. At first, this may be very subtle, and you may be able to easily correct your vision with glasses. But over time, your vision can get so bad that even glasses or contact lenses can no longer help. This is becauseCorneal ectasia is a condition where the shape of your cornea changes, making astigmatism worse. In some types, such as keratoconus , scarring of the cornea can occur, which can also reduce your vision.

Are there any dangerous complications of corneal ectasia?

Very rarely, corneal ectasia can lead to serious complications. One of these is corneal hydrops . This is a condition in which the cornea suddenly swells and becomes watery. This is a medical emergency . It affects about 3% of people with keratoconus . Symptoms of corneal hydrops include:

• Sudden blurred vision
• Hypersensitivity to light (blue eyes)
• The pain in my eyes is unbearable.

If you have these symptoms, you should go to the emergency department of your nearest hospital immediately. This is something that should not be delayed.

What are the causes of this? What are the risk factors?

It is often difficult to pinpoint the exact cause of corneal ectasia . Conditions such as keratoconus and keratoglobus seem to run in families (meaning someone in the family may have had it). Ectasia after surgery may be due to a weakness in the cornea that was not detected during pre-operative testing. You may be at increased risk of developing corneal ectasia for the following reasons:

• If you have a connective tissue disease , such as Ehlers-Danlos syndrome .
• If you have a medical condition that makes you rub your eyes frequently. For example , hay fever , dust allergies, or eczema . Rubbing your eyes too often can also contribute to this, so you need to be careful about that too.
• If you wear contact lenses, especially hard lenses, for a long time.
• If you have had vision correction surgery.

How do you find this? (Diagnosis)

Eye care specialists diagnose corneal ectasia by:

• CompleteA comprehensive eye exam is performed.
• They will talk to you and ask about your medical history and whether anyone in your family has had similar conditions .
• Special tests are performed, such as a slit lamp exam ( an examination of the eye with a special slit lamp ) and corneal topography ( a test that takes a map of the surface of the cornea and looks for changes in its shape).

" Early detection of this condition allows your doctor to develop the most appropriate treatment plan for you. That's why it's important to have an eye exam every year, especially if someone in your family has keratoconus or other eye diseases." "Also, this diagnosis is essential before undergoing vision correction surgery like LASIK . Corneal ectasia, which is already present, can worsen even if it's very mild and you don't have any symptoms. Therefore, your doctor will perform tests before surgery to make sure you're at low risk."

Is there a treatment for corneal ectasia?

Yes, absolutely! There are various treatment options for Corneal Ectasia . These treatments range from glasses to surgery. Ophthalmologists will choose the treatment that best suits your individual needs. The type of treatment you need will depend on the severity of your condition and how well you can see. Treatment options include:

What happens to the mirrors?

Glasses can help you see better , but they do not prevent the disease from progressing. Glasses are often helpful in the early stages of corneal ectasia .

Tell me about contact lenses.

Like glasses, contact lenses can help you see better , but they don't stop or slow down the progression of the disease. They can help in the early and moderate stages. There are different types of contact lenses, including soft and hard lenses, as well as scleral lenses that are specially designed for this condition. Your doctor will choose the one that is best for you.

When is surgery necessary?

Surgery is usually best for moderate to severe cases of corneal ectasia . Your eye doctor will first try to keep your vision good enough for daily activities with simple measures such as glasses and contact lenses. However, if glasses and contact lenses do not adequately correct your vision, or if tests show that the condition is getting worse, you may need surgery.Surgery is different from glasses and contact lenses. Because surgery can actually slow or stop the progression of the disease. If your doctor recommends surgery, you may wonder what kind of surgery you need and what happens next. It's important to take the time to learn about your surgical options. Each surgery has its own benefits and risks. Talk to your doctor about this surgery and what's right for you. Surgical options include:

• Corneal ring implantation : This surgery involves implanting small plastic rings (segments) into your cornea to correct the shape of your cornea. This helps reduce the curvature of the cornea and focus light entering your eye, which can help sharpen your vision. These corneal rings are also called Intrastromal Corneal Ring Segments (ICRS) .
• Corneal Cross-Linking (CXL) : This is a very important surgery. It uses riboflavin (vitamin B2) and UV light to strengthen the bonds between the collagen fibers (proteins that give the cornea its strength and shape) in your cornea. It's like strengthening the pillars of a building. CXL can slow or stop the progression of corneal ectasia . It's especially helpful if it's done before the disease has progressed.
• Cornea transplant : This surgery gives you a new cornea (from a human donor). Surgeons use different options depending on how damaged your corneal tissue is. For example, in Deep Lamellar Keratoplasty (DALK) , the surgeon removes only the top and middle layers of the cornea, leaving the healthy layer underneath ( the endothelium ) intact. This is a procedure with a lower risk of rejection than penetrating keratoplasty (which replaces all layers of the cornea).

So what happens after this situation? (Outlook)

Your doctor is the best person to ask about your health and what the future holds. He or she knows the condition of your eyes and your medical history. He or she can tell you what to expect based on your history and test results. If you have any questions or concerns, don't hesitate to ask for answers.

What are the ways to reduce this risk?

Unfortunately, most types of corneal ectasia cannot be prevented. However, early detection can help you receive timely treatment and avoid factors that can worsen the condition.You can do the following to increase your chances of early detection:

• Get an eye exam every year.
• Before having vision correction surgery, ask your doctor about the risk of corneal ectasia .
• Find out if anyone in your biological family has had corneal ectasia (also share this information with your doctor).

How do I take care of myself?

Most lifestyle changes do not have a significant effect on corneal ectasia . However, rubbing your eyes can make some types of corneal ectasia worse. This is very important. Try to avoid rubbing your eyes as much as possible. If you have difficulty doing this, or if it is caused by an allergy, talk to an ophthalmologist or primary care doctor. They can give you advice and, if necessary, prescribe medication. For example, some allergy medications (antihistamines) can help reduce the urge to rub your eyes.

When should I see the doctor?

Your doctor will tell you how often you need to come for follow-ups. This will depend on the type of corneal ectasia you have, its severity, and the treatment you are receiving. You may need to come for follow-ups every three to six months to see if the condition is getting worse. These follow-ups will help your doctor decide the best time to start treatment. It is important to keep all of your appointments. Your doctor will closely monitor your condition and perform the tests needed to plan your treatment. To preserve your vision for corneal ectasia as much as possible, you need to be very diligent about your treatment and follow-up. If you experience symptoms of corneal ectasia , which means your vision is gradually getting worse, call your doctor immediately and make an appointment, even if it's still time for your annual eye exam.

When should I go to the Emergency Department (ETU) ?

If you have any of these symptoms , go to a hospital emergency room immediately :

• If you experience sudden or severe eye pain.
• It's okay if your vision suddenly becomes blurry or if things appear in two parts.
• If the eye becomes swollen (edema) , that is, if it becomes enlarged as if it is filled with water.

These may be signs of a medical emergency, such as corneal hydrops, that requires immediate treatment.

What is the difference between corneal ectasia and keratoconus?

It's easy to confuse these two words, isn't it? Corneal Ectasia isLike the main umbrella . That means it's a big category, a group of diseases. Keratoconus is one type of corneal ectasia , and it's also the most common type . Research shows that about one in 400 people, or one in 2,000, has keratoconus . However, some research suggests that the actual number of people with this condition may be much higher than these statistics. Corneal ectasia can cause stress, anxiety, and frustration as you work, care for a family, or just go about your daily life. But the good news is that treatment options are improving day by day. Some surgeries give you the chance to slow down or stop the progression of the disease. Talk to an ophthalmologist about which path is best for you.

So, what are the things we need to remember from all of this?

• Corneal ectasia is a condition in which the cornea of ​​the eye becomes thin and protrudes forward, impairing vision. Keratoconus is the most common type of this.
• If you have symptoms such as gradual loss of vision, sensitivity to light, or seeing rings around lights , you should definitely see an ophthalmologist.
• Early detection and proper treatment are very important. This can help prevent further deterioration of vision.
• Treatment options include glasses, contact lenses, and various surgeries (such as `Corneal Cross-Linking`, `Corneal Rings`, `Cornea Transplant`) . Your doctor will decide what is best for you.
• Avoid rubbing your eyes. This can make the condition worse.
• Don't skip annual eye exams, especially if someone in your family has these conditions.
• If you suddenly experience severe eye pain, blurred vision, or swelling in your eye , it is an emergency. Go to a hospital immediately.

Your eyes are very valuable. So if you notice even the slightest change in your vision, take care of it. Don't be afraid to talk to a doctor. Early treatment can go a long way in achieving good results.

Corneal Ectasia, Keratoconus, Vision Loss, Cornea, Eye Diseases, Vision Defects, Cornea Transplant