Your eyes’s front side is covered and protected by the cornea. It is a smooth, clear, and dome-shaped structure, which plays key roles in receiving, controlling, and focusing light rays that enter your eyes. When the protein fibers supporting it weaken, however, this may result in its deformation, a vision disorder known as keratoconus. Your reliable eye doctor at Guilford Eye Center talks about this in more detail.
Causes and Risk Factors
Tiny protein fibers support your cornea to maintain its position over your eyes. As you age, they may gradually thin out, disfiguring your cornea’s shape. Instead of having a spherical form, it becomes cone-like over time, which is why this condition is called keratoconus. While the root cause remains unknown, heredity is a major risk factor for its development.
Those who improperly use their contact lenses or use ill-fitting ones are more likely to develop keratoconus. Habitually rubbing your eyes may also lead to this problem. Studies show that oxidative damage and enzyme imbalances in your eyes are likely culprits as well. Rest assured we’ll try to find your specific risk factor during your eye exam, which we may use as a guide when creating your management plan.
Common Signs and Symptoms
Keratoconus may alter your corneal surface and shape, resulting in light bending problems. This is why affected individuals usually have difficulties seeing figures clearly. Whether near or far, objects seem blurry to you. You may also develop increased light sensitivity, making it hard to drive at night. Eye irritation, headaches, and eye strain are common as well.
Our Suggested Treatment
Eyeglasses are usually the best vision correction method during the early keratoconus phase. As the condition progresses, however, we may prescribe using contact lenses for easier viewing. We may recommend using soft contact lenses to maintain your visual comfort. We could also suggest using rigid, gas-permeable ones for your better eye sharpness.
For more information about keratoconus, call us at (336) 387-6777. You may also complete our contact form to request an appointment. We serve Greensboro and the surrounding NC areas.
