When it comes to vision care, eye doctors encourage annual examinations, not only check your eyesight but also to confirm the overall health and wellness of your cornea. Keratoconus is a condition that impacts roughly 55 out of 100,000 people in the United States. It’s defined by a gradual bulging and thinning of the cornea into a cone shape. If you’re unfamiliar with this issue, here’s some helpful information to review. 

What You Should Know About Keratoconus

What Causes This Condition?

While vision care professionals continue to debate the cause of keratoconus, most believe it’s a combination of genetics and environmental factors. The primary risk factors for this condition include family history, the habit of constantly rubbing your eyes with vigor, and the presence of other health conditions such as Ehlers-Danlos syndrome, Down syndrome, asthma, and hay fever. 

What Are the Symptoms?

Individuals with Keratoconus may experience a combination of symptoms such as distorted or blurred vision, issues driving at night, or sensitivity to light. If you have to visit your vision care center with frequency for new glasses prescriptions or your eyesight suddenly becomes cloudy, you may have a bulging and thinning cornea.

What Complications Can Occur?

As the cornea begins to bulge, its lining can break down, allowing fluid to seep in. Patients will likely experience eye swelling that results in scarring. The scarring will disrupt your vision and can eventually lead to chronic vision problems, difficulty seeing crisp images, and declining eyesight.

What Are the Treatment Options?

Mild cases of Keratoconus can be treated with prescription contact lenses or glasses. Eye doctors will also work with individual patients to slow the progress of the disease.

In severe cases, corneal collagen cross-linking therapy can be used. This involves using riboflavin eye drops and ultraviolet light to slow the progression and stabilize the cornea. When scarring and thinning reduce vision significantly, cornea transplant surgery may be necessary.

If you’re experiencing vision problems, trust the team at Elko Eye Center with your eyesight. Dr. Kenneth Houchin and his team have over three decades of experience treating residents throughout Elko County, NV. They believe in offering comprehensive, innovative vision care that meets the needs of patients of all ages. To schedule an eye exam, call (702) 718-2020. For more information on their services and commitment to using state-of-the-art equipment and techniques, visit their website.