Keratoconus (
KEHR-a-toh-kohn-nus often abbreviated to KC) is a corneal disease that damages vision due to the development of irregular astigmatisms, secondary to the flattening of the cornea.
The cornea is the clean window of the eye and is responsible for refracting most of the light that enters it. Cornea abnormalities significantly affect how we see and perform simple tasks, such as driving, watching TV, or reading a book.
In its earliest stages, keratoconus causes negligible blurriness and distortion of vision, and also increases sensitivity to glare and light.
 |
| A healthy cornea has a perfectly spherical shape and allows images to be focused correctly | A cone-shaped bulb forms in a cornea with keratoconus, causing distorted vision of images |
These symptoms usually appear in the late teens and early 20s. Keratoconus can progress for 10-20 years and can slow down its progress. Each eye can be affected in a different way. The progress of keratoconus (KC) is unpredictable, usually slow and can stop at any stage, from normal to advanced.In the initial stage of keratoconus, glasses or soft contact lenses can be used to correct myopia and astigmatism. As the disorder progresses and the cornea thins and changes in shape, gas permeable contact lenses may be prescribed to correct vision more adequately. Contact lenses must be fitted carefully, and frequent checkups, as well as lens changes, may be required to maintain good vision.
