In short: Keratoconus is a condition in which the clear front surface of the eye, the cornea, gradually thins and bulges outward. It often appears in the teens or twenties and can steadily worsen. Early diagnosis matters, because treatments such as corneal cross-linking (CXL) aim to halt progression before vision is badly affected.
What is keratoconus?
A healthy cornea is dome-shaped and evenly curved. In keratoconus it weakens and steepens into more of a cone, which distorts the way light enters the eye. The result is blurred or distorted vision that ordinary glasses cannot fully correct. Read more on our cornea and keratoconus page.
Early signs to look out for
- Vision that keeps getting worse, with glasses changing frequently
- Blurred or distorted vision, ghosting or multiple images
- Rapidly increasing astigmatism
- Glare, halos or sensitivity to light, especially at night
- Frequent eye rubbing, which is a known risk factor and best avoided
A family history of keratoconus, and conditions such as eye allergies, may raise risk. Symptoms can begin in one eye before the other.
How is it diagnosed?
Diagnosis relies on mapping the cornea. Corneal topography and tomography show the shape and curvature of the surface, and pachymetry measures corneal thickness. Detecting it early, sometimes before symptoms become obvious, gives the widest range of treatment choices.
What is corneal cross-linking (CXL)?
Corneal cross-linking is a procedure that strengthens the cornea using riboflavin (vitamin B2) drops activated by ultraviolet light. Its goal is to stabilise the cornea and stop keratoconus from progressing further; it is not designed to give perfect vision or to cure the condition. It works best when performed before significant damage has occurred. Learn more on our CXL page.
What other treatments are there?
- Spectacles or soft contact lenses in the early stages
- Specialty contact lenses, such as rigid gas-permeable or scleral lenses, for clearer vision as the cornea becomes irregular
- Corneal implants or rings in selected cases
- Corneal transplantation for advanced disease. Trivision Eye Hospital is a Registered Corneal Transplant Centre.
What about LASIK?
Laser vision correction such as LASIK removes corneal tissue and is generally not suitable for people with keratoconus, because the cornea is already weakened. This is one reason a thorough pre-surgery corneal evaluation is so important for anyone considering laser vision correction.
Getting checked
If your prescription keeps changing or your vision seems distorted, book a consultation at Trivision Eye Hospital, Linking Road, Bandra West. This article is general information and does not replace an examination.