Eyes
are the most sensitive and delicate part of our body which needs proper care
and attention. We do almost everything to keep our eyes healthy, but still,
there are times when certain issues create a problem in the eyesight and lead
to various eye-related diseases. One such issue that is severely affecting the
eye health of people all around the world is Keratoconus, in which the round
surface of the eye cornea gets weaken and a conical shape like bulge is formed
in the eye.
What is
Keratoconus?
Keratoconus
is mainly an eye disease in which the cornea thins and starts to bulge like a
cone-like structure. This issue leads to a distorted vision as the cone shape
deflects the light when it enters the eye on its way to the retina and causes
problems in the vision. Keratoconus usually occurs during a person’s teenager
age or early 20’s and can occur in one or both the eyes.
The
symptoms of Keratoconus are numerous including redness of the eyes and blurry
eye vision. But, there are also several major symptoms that call for an
immediate consultation from an eye doctor.
Common
symptoms of Keratoconus
- Reduction in the vision
- Short-sightedness
- Uneven shape of the cornea
- Eye halos
- Issues in the night vision
- Severe and regular headache
- Eye ghosting
- Myopia
- Unfocused vision
So,
whenever you start experiencing any of the above-given symptoms in your eyes,
you should immediately consult your doctor as you may be suffering from the
Keratoconus problem.
Causes of
Keratoconus
Keratoconus
mainly is caused by an imbalance of enzymes that are found within the cornea.
The imbalance makes the cornea prone to oxidative damage from free radicals
further leading to bulging and weakening. Also, it can be caused with an
overexposure to the sun, eye rubbing, poorly fitted contact lenses and chronic
eye issues. Other reasons due to which this issue can occur in the eyes are:
1. Collagen:
Collagen
is mainly a fiber protein that is responsible for keeping the cornea in the
correct place. When the collagen gets reduced or increased, the movement of the
cornea gets affected which results in Keratoconus.
2. Antioxidants:
Antioxidants
are components that help in the protection of the collagen fiber and also limit
the cornea cells in the eye. When the antioxidants get low in their level, the
cornea weakens and leads to Keratoconus.
Treatment
for Keratoconus
For
the mildest form of Keratoconus, soft contact lenses and eyeglasses may help.
But, when this disease becomes severe and the cornea becomes increasingly
uneven in its shape, contact lenses and glasses no longer provide the
correction. So, for curing progressive Keratoconus the below-given treatments
can be beneficial.
- Gas permeable contact lenses
- Corneal cross-linking (CXL)
- Prosthetic eye lenses
- Hybrid contact lenses
- Piggybacking contact lenses
- Sclera and semi sclera lenses
- Corneal transplant
Moreover,
there are various more treatment options for Keratoconus that are highly
effective and beneficial. Besides, if you want to avoid this issue or any other
eye related problems, you need to get your eyes regularly checked by the
doctor. Regular check-ups of the eye will help you to maintain your eyesight
and will also be beneficial for your entire eye health.
