Keratoconus: Everything You Need To Know

Keratoconus is one of the hardest things to deal with. People find it very painful not to be able to clearly see their loved ones and the things in their immediate surroundings.  Taking care of your eyes plays an important role. This is why an eye exam has to be done once or twice a year just to be sure that your eyesight is healthy. And it would be best if you let De Carlo Optometry Placentia do it for you. We have the best keratoconus doctor and provide other services for your eyes. 

We are a highly regarded optometry clinic in Placentia, California. Read our customer testimonials to find out why. You can also learn more by reading some of the most recent blog posts on our website. If you have any questions, please fill out our contact form or call us at (714) 996-1136.

What Is Keratoconus

Keratoconus is caused when the cornea gets smaller and the surface of the cornea gets bumpy. At the front of your eye, there is a clear layer that looks like glass called the cornea. Collagen is the protein that makes up the middle layer of the cornea, and it’s what makes it hard and strong. 

In the middle layer, there is a lot of water and a lot of collagen. It makes the cornea stronger and more flexible. Keeps its shape so that it doesn’t get too big or small. A healthy cornea can focus light, allowing you to see more clearly. Vision gets worse as the cornea thins and bulges into an irregular cone shape.

Keratoconus usually starts in your teens and lasts into your 30s. There is no way to know how quickly or if the disease will get better or worse. One eye is more likely to get it than the other.

Symptoms of Keratoconus

Most of the time, keratoconus takes time to grow. There is a good chance that it starts in your mid-20s. It is hard to find this eye disease because it takes a long time for it to grow, making it hard to find. Eyes start to change shape in this disease. They are starting to look more like cones than they used to. 

People lose their near-field vision over time, and their astigmatism isn’t always the same. They also have nearsightedness and distorted vision because of light sensitivity, which makes it hard for them to see well. 

Remember that this isn’t always the case, though. The optometrist may quickly change the power of your eyes if you already wear glasses. To make things worse or better, you might need glasses. 

Most of the time, these changes are small. He or she might not see the signs and keratoconus symptoms until it’s too late. Then, before this happens, make sure you go to your eye doctor near my location for your regular check-ups. 

There is a good chance that keratoconus will happen to both eyes. It can make the two eyes see very different things. Another thing that could happen in each eye is that they may get better or worse over time, too.

When Keratoconus First Starts, Many Things Can Happen.

• the mild blurring of the eyes
• blurry vision, where straight lines look bent or wavy in your eyes
• eyes that are more sensitive to light and glare 
• redness or swelling

In The Later Stages, Keratoconus Can Cause The ff:

• Blurry and distorted vision.
• Rise in nearsightedness or astigmatism. (your eye cannot focus). So, you may need to get new eyeglass prescriptions all the time.
• To not be able to wear contacts (They may no longer fit right, and they are uncomfortable, so they may not be worth it.)

Most of the time, keratoconus takes a long time to go from the early stages to the late stages. It can get a lot worse very quickly for some people. The cornea can swell and start to scar very quickly. In this case, the cornea isn’t as smooth and precise as it should be. This means that things get worse with vision. It is now even blurrier and distorted.

If you think you are having keratoconus symptoms, you should check to see if you are. There is the best cornea specialist near me. If so, make an appointment right away.

Causes Of Keratoconus

In the past, they thought that this eye disease was caused by injuries or other things that came from outside of the body. Research shows that one of the main reasons for Keratoconus is an imbalance of enzymes in the cornea, but that’s not all. 

There are things in the air that can damage your cornea and make it more difficult to treat. Those who get this kind of damage can make their corneas look weird and swell. There is a cone-shaped appearance to it.

It may be passed down through families in some cases. One (1) in ten (10) people with keratoconus have a parent who has it, too, so it runs in the family. Keratoconus is also linked to:

• eye allergy 
• excessive eye rubbing
• connective tissue disorders (Marfan syndrome)

People who have keratoconus are most likely to be in their late teens or early twenties, but it can happen to anyone at any age. Over 10 to 20 years, the vision problems get worse.

How Is Keratoconus Diagnosed?

The doctor will do a thorough medical history and eye exam. Also, they may do the following tests to find out if you have keratoconus:

Corneal Topography

You should do this to see if you have early keratoconus and to keep track of how it grows. Your doctor will take a computerized picture that shows how the shape of the eye’s cornea is shown.

Also, in a healthy eye, the cornea is smooth and curved even. People with keratoconus have a bulging cornea that looks different than it should. There are places on a corneal topography map where the cornea is very steep or has a lot of different shapes.

Keep an eye on the progress of keratoconus with corneal topography. In time, the map will show more and more irregular corneal surfaces.

Slit-lamp Exam

This is a special microscope that can look very closely at the parts of one‘s eyes. There are two layers of the cornea that we look at in this exam. When we get there, we can check to see if there are any problems.

If your eye is checked with an ophthalmoscope, the doctor shines a very narrow light beam into your eye. They will use a microscope to look at the cornea, then. Let them see if the cornea isn’t the shape it should be.

Pachymetry

A pachymetry test is an easy, quick, and painless way to determine how thick your cornea is. With this measurement, your doctor will understand your IOP reading better. After this, they will develop a treatment plan that is right for them. The procedure only takes about a minute to measure both eyes, and it only takes that long.

Risk Factors For Keratoconus

The following details below may increase the risk of developing keratoconus:

– Genetics

A person is more likely to get the disease if their family has had it. If they have Down syndrome, they are also more likely to get keratoconus.

– Chronic Eye Inflammation

An allergy can cause a lot of inflammation in your eyes, which can damage your corneal tissue.

– Eye Rubbing

It is possible to get keratoconus if you keep rubbing your eyes. Even though we don’t know for sure, we think that it could also make the disease worse.

– Age

Most people get keratoconus when they are in their teens, but it can happen at any age. People who are young and have advanced keratoconus are more likely to need surgery, but this isn’t always the case.

How Is Keratoconus Treated?

There are two main things that people who have keratoconus need to work on: correcting vision and how far the disease has spread. How far the disease has spread also plays a role in how long it has been around.

– Early Stages

Glasses can be used to help people who are nearsighted or have astigmatism see better. That’s true, but only in the early stages of keratoconus does it work. As keratoconus progresses and gets worse, glasses don’t give you clear vision anymore. Patients must wear a contact lens, usually a hard contact lens, in order to see well at night. Or visit Keratoconus contact lens specialists near me, so I can get my contact lens there.

– Intermediate Stages

We can treat Keratoconus which is worsened by cross-linking corneal collagen. This can only be done once at the doctor’s office. You will apply a vitamin B solution to the eye. You will also turn on the ultraviolet light for about 30 minutes or less. The solution creates new collagen bonds. In this case, it will aid in maintaining the cornea’s strength and shape.

While the treatment cannot restore the cornea to its original state, it can prevent vision from deteriorating. It may even improve vision in some cases, so it’s worth having.
They will remove the epithelium from the cornea. Riboflavin will be more likely to reach the corneal tissue as a result.

In April 2016, the FDA approved cross-linking as a keratoconus treatment. Clinical trials showed that the procedure reduced corneal bulging for three to twelve months after the procedure.

Advanced Stages

– Corneal Ring

A standard contact lens may be too uncomfortable to wear for an extended period of time if you have severe keratoconus. Intacs are plastic C-shaped rings that can be inserted into the eye. 

They will use it to flatten the surface of the cornea, which will improve vision. They may also help you get your contacts to fit better. It takes about 15 minutes to complete.

– Corneal Transplant

In a corneal transplant, you can use a donor cornea to replace the broken patient’s cornea. Corneal transplants are often performed on an outpatient basis. Its procedure will take about an hour to complete. 

Vision can be blurry for three to six months after the transplant. The transplant will be a success if you will take your medications. Most of the time, you will need glasses or a contact lens to get the best vision after a transplant.

It is best to seek the advice of a trained eye doctor when it comes to Keratoconus treatment. Your doctor may recommend different treatment options depending on the severity of the disease. Soft lenses, RGP lenses, and hybrid lenses will be available. Keratoconus is almost always curable, and your vision will not suffer in the long run.

If you’re looking for keratoconus specialists near me, don’t look any further. De Carlo Optometry Placentia is at your disposal. We have always prioritized one-on-one patient care. Examine our services and schedule an appointment with us by calling (714) 996-1136.

Keratoconus specialists near me aren’t hard to find. De Carlo Optometry Placentia is ready to help you. One-on-one patient care has always been important to us. Check out our services and make an appointment with us by calling (714) 996-1136.

De Carlo Optometry Placentia Offers The Following Services: 

• Keratoconus Dry Eyes
• Eye Glasses
• Computer Lenses

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Frequently Asked Questions

What causes keratoconus?

The following factors can increase your risk of developing keratoconus: Having a family history. You vigorously rubbed your eyes. Having retinitis pigmentosa, Down syndrome, Ehlers-Danlos syndrome, hay fever, or asthma.

What is the most effective keratoconus treatment?

Scleral contact lenses are the most effective treatment for keratoconus right now. Scleral lenses provide excellent vision while also being extremely comfortable. A contact lens specialist in your area will be the most knowledgeable about fitting these specialized lenses.

Can keratoconus be permanently cured?

Keratoconus is not a condition that can be treated permanently with medications or surgery. It’s a chronic eye disorder, which means it’ll be with you for the rest of your life. The most cutting-edge medical treatments aren’t magical.

Is it possible to stop keratoconus?

Corneal cross-linking, or corneal tissue strengthening surgery, is a safe way to slow the progression of keratoconus and keep the cornea from tearing and clouding. This corneal strengthening procedure, known as CROSS-LINKING in the international community, has been used successfully for 15 years.

Is it possible to cure keratoconus naturally?

Regardless of the cause of your Keratoconus, there is no way to reverse it naturally or medically through diet, exercise, drugs, or other therapies.

Is keratoconus a serious condition?

Keratoconus, if left untreated, can result in permanent vision loss. The corneal changes make it difficult to focus the eye with or without eyeglasses or standard soft contact lenses.

How do you get rid of keratoconus for good?

Keratoconus has no cure, but it can be effectively managed with treatment. The severity of the condition determines the most effective treatment for this condition. There are several treatments available to help manage keratoconus effectively; simply keep an eye out for keratoconus symptoms on a daily basis.