What is keratoconus?

• A degenerative condition which causes progressive thinning of the corneal stroma
• The cornea is the front window of the eye, made up of 6 layers of which the stroma is the thickest. It allows light to enter the eye, and provides 2/3 of the eye’s total focusing power
• As keratoconus progresses, it causes the cornea to become cone-shaped which leads to an increase in astigmatism and blurred vision
• Onset is typically during puberty, but may not be detected until later in life. Progression is variable

What are the causes of keratoconus?

• Genetic predisposition for weak corneal collagen fibres, though no gene has been identfied
• Mechanical damage from excessive eye rubbing throughout childhood
• Skin atopia and allergies such as eczema and hay fever

What are the signs and symptoms of keratoconus?

• Blurring and fluctuations in vision
• Usually affects both eyes, but can be more advanced in one eye
• Halos or starbursts around light sources
• Doubling or shadowing of images
• Frequent changes in glasses or contact lens prescription

What are the treatments for keratoconus?

• Avoid eye rubbing and treat any skin conditions or allergies
• Regular eye assessments with your Optometrist
• Early stages: glasses or soft/hard contact lenses
• Mild-moderate stable keratoconus – if you are contact lens or glasses intolerant, removable intra-corneal rings (INTACS, Kerarings) can be surgically implanted into the cornea to reduce astigmatism and improve vision
• Progressive stages: corneal collagen cross linking (CXL)
• Late stages: corneal transplantation of a donor cornea
• Without treatment, significant visual impairment will occur, and vision may reach the level of legal blindness (6/60 or 20/200 in the better eye with glasses/contact lenses)