Keratoconus is a progressive eye condition that causes the cornea, or the clear surface of the eye, to bulge outward in a conelike shape. It’s usually diagnosed during adolescence or early adulthood, and eventually leads to refractive errors, such as nearsightedness and astigmatism.
Mary Demirjian, OD, and our expert team at Wide Eye Optometry in Encino, Santa Clarita, and Palmdale, California, specialize in diagnosing and treating keratoconus. Read on to learn about common keratoconus symptoms, how it’s diagnosed, and what to expect during treatment.
A healthy cornea is round and disc-shaped. It covers the front of the eye, acting as a shield, and helps you focus light, so you can see clearly. With keratoconus, your corneas take on a conelike shape, affecting their ability to focus.
Over time, these changes increase the risk of astigmatism, which causes blurry or distorted vision, and nearsightedness, a refractive error that makes objects in the distance appear blurry. Glasses and contact lenses can often correct these issues, but without timely professional treatment, the corneal bulge can worsen and cause significant vision loss.
Keratoconus often develops slowly over a period of 10-20 years. Tell-tale signs include:
As the corneas become increasingly cone-shaped, you may also experience distorted vision that causes straight lines to appear wavy, curved, or bent.
If you have any of these symptoms, come see our team right away. The sooner keratoconus is diagnosed, the sooner you can begin treatment and lower your risk of vision complications.
Diagnosing keratoconus typically takes less than 30 minutes for the initial assessment. Dr. Demirjian reviews your health records, asks about your symptoms, and completes a comprehensive eye exam.
This includes a visual acuity test, a slit-lamp exam, and optical coherence tomography (OCT), an imaging test that produces a map of your cornea. It’s an easy and effective way to diagnose keratoconus and determine the best treatment approach.
Keratoconus can’t be cured or completely reversed, but treatment can slow its progression and keep your vision sharp. Depending on its stage and severity, we may recommend:
When keratoconus is diagnosed early, surgery usually isn’t necessary. Contacts and healthy lifestyle changes are often enough to prevent the condition from worsening.
With contact lenses, many people experience vision improvements quickly, but other treatments, such as corneal cross-linking surgery, take longer to show results. Be patient, follow Dr. Demirjian’s instructions, and attend each of your follow-up appointments.
If you regularly experience blurred or distorted vision or frequently need to update your glasses or contact lens prescription, it’s important to get screened for keratoconus. After an exam, we can determine your risk and make personalized treatment recommendations.
To learn more, schedule an appointment at your nearest Wide Eye Optometry office in Encino, Santa Clarita, or Palmdale, California, today.