What is Keratoconus?
Keratoconus is a progressive eye condition that causes the cornea, the clear, dome-shaped front surface of the eye, to thin and bulge outward into a cone shape. This irregular shape distorts vision, leading to symptoms such as blurred vision, glare, and sensitivity to light. The condition often starts in adolescence or early adulthood and may gradually worsen over time. In its advanced stages, keratoconus can significantly impact daily activities, making it difficult to read, drive, or see clearly without corrective lenses or surgical intervention.
What are the Symptoms of Keratoconus?
Keratoconus symptoms vary depending on the severity of the condition. The most common symptoms include:
- Blurred vision: Blurred vision is one of the earliest and most noticeable signs of keratoconus. As the cornea changes shape, light entering the eye gets scattered, causing objects to appear unclear or distorted.
- Ghosting of images: Many individuals with keratoconus experience ghosting or double vision, where images appear duplicated or overlapped. This can occur even when wearing glasses or contact lenses, making it challenging to achieve sharp vis
- Distorted vision: Due to the irregular shape of the cornea, keratoconus often causes straight lines and objects to appear wavy or bent. This visual distortion makes reading and other close-up tasks difficult.
- Sensitivity to light: Increased sensitivity to light (photophobia) is common in people with keratoconus. Bright lights, such as headlights and sunlight, may cause discomfort and make it harder to see clearly, especially at night.
- Glare :Glare and halos around light sources, especially at night, are frequent complaints among those with keratoconus. This makes activities like night driving particularly challenging.
- Frequent change in glass prescriptions :As keratoconus progresses, individuals often find that their eyeglass prescription changes frequently. This is due to the cornea’s continuous reshaping, which alters how light is focused onto the retina.
Causes of Keratoconus
The exact cause of keratoconus is not fully understood, but several factors are believed to contribute to its development:
- Genetics: A family history of keratoconus increases the likelihood of developing the condition.
- Excessive Eye Rubbing: Frequent or vigorous rubbing of the eyes may weaken the cornea over time, contributing to its thinning and bulging.
- Underlying Medical Conditions: Conditions such as asthma, Down syndrome, and connective tissue disorders are associated with a higher risk of keratoconus.
- Oxidative Stress: Imbalance in the eye’s natural defense mechanism against oxidative stress may weaken the corneal structure.