CORNEAL/EXTERNAL DISEASE

Keratoconus

Keratoconus is a disorder that is characterized by a progressive steepening of the cornea, typically just below the center. This results in a more pointed, cone-shaped center and blurred vision. Rarely, a medical condition can be associated with keratoconus, but the most common link to this disorder is that of allergic eye disease. Research has shown that eye rubbing, perhaps in response to itchy eyes, can worsen or even cause keratoconus. Eye-rubbing is never advocated by your eye physician and itchy eyes can be treated more effectively with drops or systemic allergy medications when necessary.

The treatment for the blurred vision which results from keratoconus is spectacles followed by hard contact lenses when spectacle correction becomes ineffective. Over time, the progressive corneal thinning may lead to breaks in the cornea and subsequent scarring or discomfort. When this occurs, or the vision cannot be corrected effectively with contacts or glasses, a corneal transplant can be performed.

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