Keratoconus

• Introduction to keratoconus
• What causes keratoconus?
• Can keratoconus damage vision?
• How is keratoconus diagnosed?
• How is keratoconus treated?
• Will surgery correct keratoconus?

Introduction

We see through the cornea, which is the clear, central part of the front surface of the eye. Normally, the cornea has a round shape, like a ball. Sometimes, however, the structure of the cornea is just not strong enough to hold this round shape. The normal pressure inside the eye makes the cornea bulge outward like a cone. This condition is called keratoconus.

What Causes Keratoconus?

Often the cause of keratoconus is unknown. Some studies have found that keratoconus runs in families, and that it happens more often in people with certain medical conditions. But most often, there is no eye injury or disease that could explain why the eye starts to change.

Keratoconus usually begins in the teenage years, but it can also start in childhood or up to about age 30. The changes in the shape of the cornea occur slowly, usually over several years.

Someone with keratoconus will notice that vision slowly becomes distorted. The change can stop at any time, or it can continue for several years. In most people who have keratoconus, both eyes are eventually affected.

Can Keratoconus Damage Vision?

Keratoconus does not make people go blind. However, the changes to the cornea will make it impossible for the eye to focus without eyeglasses or contact lenses .

Keratoconus can be dangerous if laser vision correction surgery -- LASIK or PRK is performed on the eye.

Anyone with even a small amount of keratoconus should not have laser vision correction surgery.

Next: How is keratoconus diagnosed? »

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