important information
Have you ever heard of keratoconus? What are its symptoms and causes? Can it be treated? Here are the most important information and details about this disease in the following article.
Keratoconus is a rare eye condition, so what should you know about it? Details are as follows:
What is keratoconus?
First, the cornea is the visible outer part of the eye that protects the various parts of the eye from external factors such as wind, dust, etc. In normal cases, the cornea takes the form of a dome or a slightly convex surface.
However, when afflicted with this disease, the shape of the cornea appears different from what was mentioned, as it takes on a cone-like shape, and its curvature increases significantly to appear more protruding outward, or it may appear to protrude noticeably downward.
Causes of keratoconus
Scientists are still unable to determine the main cause behind this disease, but they suggest that these factors may increase the chances of infection:
Genetics may play a role in causing this condition, especially if the family history includes previous infections, including parents.
Eye allergy.
Excessive rubbing of the eyes.
Lack of antioxidants inside the eye for a reason.
It is worth noting that the shape of the cornea begins to change to become closer to the cone when the collagen bonds in the eye weaken as a result of things such as a lack of antioxidants that strengthen these bonds.
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Symptoms of keratoconus
As the cornea begins to take on a cone shape, these symptoms begin to appear on the affected person:
Vision problems, such as: blurry vision, and visible halos around everything the patient sees at night.
Scarring in the cornea of the eye, visible swelling in the eyeball and redness.
Seeing straight lines as twisted or wavy.
Sudden problems with the ability to see without warning.
Noticeable sensitivity to different light sources.
Inability to wear contact lenses as usual.
Seeing surrounding objects as if they had one, two or more copies.
It is worth noting that symptoms often begin to appear in one eye first and then appear in the other eye. The symptoms in both eyes do not necessarily have the same severity, and symptoms may appear suddenly or disappear suddenly, as the matter varies from one patient to another.
When does keratoconus appear?
This disease usually appears in the patient in the last years of adolescence, and symptoms get worse over a period ranging between 10-20 years, especially those related to the ability to see clearly.
In very few cases, this disease may appear in the early childhood years, or in the thirties or forties.
Diagnosis of keratoconus
This disease is usually diagnosed by an ophthalmologist by following the following steps and procedures:
Have an eye examination.
Check your family''s medical history to check for previous cases of the disease.
The patient is subjected to the following tests: refraction examination, slit lamp examination, and computerized keratography.
Treatment of keratoconus
The treatment method depends on the patient''s symptoms and their severity, as follows
Use special prescription glasses with somewhat thick lenses in minor cases.
The use of some special treatments such as: collagen cross-linking and corneal transplantation.
Placing very small special medical devices inside the eye to correct and improve vision.
The doctor prescribed special medications such as anti-allergy medications to relieve itching if there is annoying itching associated with the condition.
Tips for keratoconus
When you contract this disease, you should pay attention to the following important things
Do not rub the eye, no matter how severe the itching is, as this may cause significant damage to the eye.
Avoid some vision correction procedures, especially LASIK.
