Keratoconus (ker-uh-toe-KOH-nus) occurs when your cornea — the clear, dome-shaped front surface of your eye — thins and gradually bulges outward into a cone shape. A cone-shaped cornea causes blurred vision and may cause sensitivity to light and glare.

How do you explain keratoconus?

Keratoconus (ker-uh-toe-KOH-nus) occurs when your cornea — the clear, dome-shaped front surface of your eye — thins and gradually bulges outward into a cone shape. A cone-shaped cornea causes blurred vision and may cause sensitivity to light and glare.

What is best treatment for keratoconus?

Mild to moderate keratoconus can be treated with eyeglasses or contact lenses. This will likely be a long-term treatment, especially if your cornea becomes stable with time or from cross-linking.

How is keratoconus measured?

In order to make a diagnosis of keratoconus, the doctor must measure the curvature of the cornea. Several different tests can be performed to make the diagnosis. The test that is used most often is called topography. Topography measures the curvature of the surface of the eye and creates a colored “map” of the cornea.

What causes keratoconus?

What causes keratoconus? Although keratoconus has been studied for decades, it remains poorly understood. The definitive cause of keratoconus is unknown, though it is believed that the predisposition to develop the disease is present at birth. A common finding in keratoconus is the loss of collagen in the cornea.

Is there permanent treatment for keratoconus?

Keratoconus isn’t a condition that can be permanently treated with medications or surgery. It’s a chronic eye disorder, which unfortunately means it’s for life. The most advanced medical options aren’t magic.

What is the thickness of cornea in keratoconus?

Comparing our results with previous studies, it was reported that the average corneal vertex epithelial thickness in keratoconus was 48.2±5.5 µm and the average cone apex epithelial thickness was 6.1 µm thinner (42.1±4.5 µm) when using OCT.

What is normal corneal thickness in keratoconus?

The average corneal thickness is about 555 μm (or a little over half a millimeter). Thinning at the bulging cone can lead to corneal break down, scarring, loss of vision, and additional complications that can lead to a Penetrating Keratoplasty (corneal transplant).

What is advanced stage of keratoconus?

Advanced Keratoconus In the advanced stage, slight to moderate scarring of the cornea is present. Corneal distortion is also substantial in this stage. The design of the rigid gas-permeable lenses will change to one with steeper inside curvatures.

Can keratoconus be cured permanently?

Keratoconus isn’t a condition that can be permanently treated with medications or surgery. It’s a chronic eye disorder, which unfortunately means it’s for life.

What is the pathophysiology of keratoconus?

Keratoconus (KC) is a bilateral, progressive, noninflammatory ectatic condition in which there is conical protrusion of a thinned central cornea. Patients experience significant visual impairment from the resultant irregular astigmatism and high myopia.

What is the ABCD grading system for keratoconus?

Keratoconus: The ABCD Grading System A new keratoconus staging incorporates anterior and posterior curvature, thinnest pachymetric values, and distance visual acuity and consists of stages 0-4 (5 stages). The proposed system closely matches the existing AK classification stages 1-4 on anterior curvature. As it incorporates posterior cu …

How many eyes are needed to classify keratoconus?

ARC, PRC, thinnest pachymetry and distance visual acuity were then used to construct a keratoconus classification. Results: 672 eyes of 336 patients were analysed.

What is forme fruste keratoconus (subclinical KC)?

Forme fruste keratoconus (subclinical KC) is an early, asymptomatic form of the disease with no apparent clinical signs; it can be diagnosed only through analysis of corneal morphology. 3 Pellucid marginal degeneration (PMD) is a bilateral, noninflammatory ectatic disorder similar to KC.