Keratoconus is when the cornea of the eye begins to thin out and form into the shape of a cone. This leaves your vision distorted and blurry and can make daily tasks like reading and driving difficult. Since keratoconus causes the cornea to change shape, light rays will be put out of focus. If you believe you are suffering from keratoconus, we can accurately assess and diagnose you here at Southwest Eye Care in Bakersfield, CA.
Causes & Symptoms of Keratoconus
It is not known what causes keratoconus. There have been many factors studied by researchers, and it is thought that both environmental and genetic factors can increase the risk of a person developing keratoconus. Environmental factors that may put a person at a higher risk of developing this disease are allergic disorders such as atopy and excessive eye rubbing since they can cause trauma to the cornea. However, many individuals that are affected seem to have a combination of both environmental and genetic factors present.
Our eye doctor will be able to spot the signs of keratoconus during an eye exam. Symptoms of keratoconus include:
- Light streaks
- Blurry vision that makes it hard to perform daily tasks
- Bright lights that appear with halos around them
- Both distant and nearby objects appear blurry
- Double vision when looking with one eye
Diagnosis & Treatment
For our eye doctor to accurately diagnose you with keratoconus, the shape of your cornea will need to be measured. There are a couple of different ways to do this, one being the use of corneal topography. With this procedure, our doctor will take a photo of your cornea and examine it closely.
The best way to begin treating keratoconus is by obtaining a new pair of glasses. Eyeglasses should help clear up symptoms in mild cases of keratoconus. If the glasses do not work, our eye doctor may recommend contact lenses instead. Rigid gas-permeable contact lenses are the first option when treating keratoconus. As time progresses, you may need to undergo other treatments to help improve your vision and strengthen your cornea.
To stop the progression of keratoconus, a treatment known as cornea collagen cross-linking may be performed. It is also possible for your optometrist to implant an Intacs under the surface of your cornea to flatten the bulge and improve your eyesight.
When all other treatments have failed, a cornea transplant may be performed. It is a safe and effective procedure that involves the removal of the center of your cornea and replacing it with a donor transplant.
Schedule an Appointment with Our Optometrist in Bakersfield, CA for Keratoconus Treatment
Call Southwest Eye Care today at (661) 833-4040 for more information or to schedule an appointment with our eye doctor.