Do you sometimes feel like your glasses are not strong enough? Or do you suddenly feel like your vision is a little different and not as clear as before? Maybe this is another reason for you to change your glasses frequently. One reason behind this is a condition called Keratoconus. Many people are scared when they hear this name, but if you are properly informed about it and seek proper treatment, it is a condition that can be controlled very well. So today, let's talk about everything in a simple way.
Simply put, what is Keratoconus?
Think of our eye as a good camera. The clear, round part at the front of the eye, called the cornea , is like the lens of a camera. This is what focuses the light coming from outside, allowing us to see things clearly. Normally, the cornea of a healthy person is beautifully round, spherical.
Now, in a condition called Keratoconus, the normally round cornea gradually thins and bulges forward into a cone shape. It looks like a small hill. Because of this change in shape, the eye is unable to focus light properly. The result is blurred and distorted vision.
Eye doctors usually diagnose this condition when you're young, in your late teens, twenties, or thirties. But it can sometimes start in childhood. This corneal change happens a little faster in younger people.
How does this condition affect your eyesight?
Changes in the shape of the cornea affect your vision in two main ways.
1. Irregular Astigmatism: When the cornea bulges forward like a cone, its smooth, round surface is also stretched. It's like a beautifully made jelly being crushed and its shape is changed. This is what is called ``irregular astigmatism'' in medical science. The problem with this is that it is difficult to completely correct this condition with regular eyeglasses.
2. Increased nearsightedness: As the cornea bulges forward, its curvature increases. This causes the eye to become 'nearsighted'. As a result, you have to change your glasses more often, using increasingly stronger glasses.
What are the symptoms of Keratoconus?
These symptoms may appear one after the other. You may also have one or more of them together. It is important to be aware of these.
| Symptom | Simple Explanation |
|---|---|
| Gradual vision loss | Vision gradually decreases in one or both eyes. This condition usually affects both eyes. |
| Double Vision | When you look through one eye with the other eye closed, it feels like you're seeing two things at once. |
| Seeing rings around lights (Halos) | Especially at night, when you look at a light bulb or a car's headlights, they look like beautiful rings around them. |
| Sensitivity to light (Photophobia) | Difficulty focusing the eyes on sunlight or bright light. Feeling as if the eyes are turning blue. |
| Distorted Vision | Things like straight lines and door and window frames appear crooked and stretched. Objects may appear to have a different shape than their actual shape. |
Why does this happen? What are the reasons?
In fact, the exact cause of keratoconus has not yet been discovered. However, some studies have shown that it may be genetic . This means that if someone in your family has the condition, you have a higher chance of developing it too.
The most important thing is that people with this condition have a habit of rubbing their eyes frequently . This may be due to allergies that cause itching in the eyes. It has been found that this rubbing of the eyes can make the condition worse. Therefore, it is very important to get rid of the habit of rubbing the eyes.
Other conditions that may be associated with Keratoconus
Keratoconus has been found to be associated with certain medical conditions that cause frequent eye rubbing. Here are some of the conditions:
- Skin diseases like atopic dermatitis and allergic dermatitis.
- Allergic rhinitis.
- Asthma.
- Down syndrome.
- Ehlers-Danlos syndrome.
- Osteogenesis imperfecta.
What complications can this cause?
If not treated properly, keratoconus can cause some complications.
| Complication | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Corneal scarring | As the cornea thins and bulges, it can become scarred. These scars can permanently impair vision. |
| Corneal hydrops | This happens suddenly. Due to a tear in the inner layer of the cornea, fluid from the eye leaks into the cornea and suddenly swells. This causes sudden loss of vision and severe pain. |
| Fleischer rings | Iron deposits form a brown ring around the cone-shaped area of the cornea. |
| Vision loss | The end result of all of this is vision loss, which can range from mild to severe. |
How does a doctor find this?
When you visit an eye doctor, he or she will first ask you about your symptoms and whether anyone in your family has had similar conditions. Then, they will perform a complete eye exam. This may include one or more of these tests.
- Visual acuity test: This is the reading test we all know. It measures the sharpness of your vision.
- Slit lamp examination: This uses a bright light and a microscope to carefully examine every part of your eye, especially the cornea.
- Keratometry: This test measures the curvature, or shape, of the cornea.
- Corneal mapping (tomography and topography): This is the most important and accurate test to diagnose this disease. Just like a map of our country, this creates a 'map' of your cornea on a computer. It records all the details of the cornea, such as its height, thickness, and shape. If you have keratoconus, it will be clearly detected by this test.
What are the treatments for this?
Fortunately, there are several treatments for keratoconus. Your doctor will determine which treatment is best for you based on the severity of your condition.Glasses and contact lenses
In the early stages of the disease, vision can be improved to some extent with regular glasses or soft contact lenses. However, as the disease progresses, it becomes impossible to see clearly with glasses due to irregular astigmatism. At that time, specially designed hard contact lenses must be used.
Corneal Crosslinking
This is the main treatment used today to stop or slow down the progression of keratoconus. This is not surgery. This involves injecting the eye with a drug called Riboflavin (Vitamin B2) and then exposing it to UV light for about 30 minutes. This strengthens the collagen fibers in the cornea, preventing the cornea from thinning and protruding forward.
Implantable ring segments (INTACS)
These are small, half-ring-like devices made of plastic. The doctor makes small incisions in the cornea and inserts these ring-like devices into them. When these are inserted, the cone-shaped cornea flattens somewhat, improving vision.
Cornea Transplant
This is done when the disease is very severe, the cornea has become scarred, and no other treatment can restore vision. This involves removing your damaged cornea and replacing it with a healthy cornea from a deceased person. It can take more than a year for vision to stabilize after this surgery.
Important: If you have Keratoconus, you should definitely talk to your doctor before undergoing laser surgery like LASIK , as such surgeries can make the condition worse.
When should I see a doctor? What are the times to go to the ETU?
See an eye doctor any time you notice any changes in your vision. Don't delay, especially if your vision changes quickly. If you have Keratoconus, it's important to get regular checkups as your doctor recommends.
When to go to the Emergency Treatment Unit (ETU):
- If you suddenly lose your sight.
- If you experience unbearable eye pain.
- If you recently had eye surgery and now have symptoms of infection, such as fever and discharge from the eye.
Don't be afraid to hear the name Keratoconus. It can be well controlled if it is recognized in time and treated correctly. The most important thing is to talk openly with your doctor, ask your questions, and choose the treatment that is best for you.
Take-Home Message
- Keratoconus is a condition in which the cornea of the eye changes shape into a cone. It usually begins in adolescence.
- The main symptoms are blurred vision, double vision, seeing halos around lights, and sensitivity to light.
- Frequent eye rubbing can worsen this condition. Therefore, treat allergies and avoid eye contact.
- There are many successful treatments, such as eyeglasses, special contact lenses, corneal crosslinking, and corneal transplantation.
- If you notice a change in your vision, see an eye doctor without delay. With proper treatment, you can protect your precious eyesight.
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