Keratoconus Treatment is Crucial to Clear Vision for Those with Corneal Issues
Keratoconus is a fairly rare eye condition involving a cornea abnormality. Your eye doctor in Bronx Pelham Parkway Vision Center offers keratoconus treatment and eye care to help restore and enhance vision.
The cornea is the transparent part of the front of the eye, and it is typically round or oval and of a uniform thickness. With keratoconus, the cornea becomes thinner and develops a bulge that is cone-shaped. Translated from medical terminology, keratoconus literally means “cone shaped cornea.”
Your Bronx Optometrist Offers Keratoconus Treatment and Eye Care Advice
With keratoconus, the cornea expands outward and develops a steep incline. Keratoconus very commonly affects both eyes; however, symptoms vary from one person to the next. Your Bronx optometrist can advise you about the best eye care and vision options when keratoconus treatment is required.
The cornea is crucial to vision. When light enters the eye, it is refracted and focused by the cornea, allowing you to see with clarity. Since keratoconus alters the cornea shape, vision is naturally distorted. Keratoconus makes all visual activities more difficult, from using a computer and watching television to playing sports.
The exact cause of the condition of keratoconus is not known. Genetics may play a role, since around 10 percent of persons with the eye disease have at least one family member that has the condition.
Keratoconus usually strikes both eyes, but symptoms affecting each eye can differ. Keratoconus can potentially affect people of all ages. In fact, it typically begins to develop in the teen years. The rate and speed of the progression of keratoconus can vary. It may continue to progress gradually for 10, 15, or 20 years, and then abruptly stop.
The main symptoms of keratoconus include:
- Vision distortion
- Slightly blurry vision
- Sensitivity to light
- Eye irritation
Treatments for Keratoconus
Treatment for each case of keratoconus depends upon the severity of the condition. In the early stages, vision correction is possible using eye glasses. However, more advanced cases may require rigid contact lenses.
The goal is to ensure even light refraction in the eye so that the vision isn’t affected or distorted. Persons with keratoconus are reminded not to rub their eyes, since this will aggravate the corneal tissue even more and cause symptoms to become worse.
Corneal Transplant is an Option for Those Requiring Keratoconus Treatment
When contact lenses for vision correction are no longer effective, persons requiring keratoconus treatment may need a corneal transplant. Around 10 to 20 percent of persons with keratoconus will be candidates for this surgery. In the procedure, the diseased cornea is removed and replaced with a donor cornea.
Contact Your Bronx Optometrist Today
Your eye doctor in Bronx is ready to advise you about the best keratoconus treatment for your condition. Trust Bronx optometrist Pelham Parkway Vision Center for all your eye care and vision health needs. Call us today at (718) 829-2160 to learn more and to request an appointment.