Keratoconus: Contact Lens Options For Clear Vision

Keratoconus is a relatively common eye condition that is found in about one out of every two thousand people. It is a disease that progresses very slowly and will increasingly cause a distortion in the image processing in the eye.

Symptoms of this eye condition :

With keratoconus the cornea over the pupil and iris begins to protrude, often with an irregular shape. Since this covering is what allows the light into the eye when it is not shaped uniformly the image is distorted, which is similar to looking through an irregularly shaped piece of glass as opposed to a curved or smooth glass surface.

The first signs of keratoconus typically develop in people in their late teens through their twenties. There may or may not be a family history of the condition and there is no determined genetic factor that causes the disease.

It is more common in people with allergies, specific health conditions and much less commonly in those that have had contacts for long periods of time.

Generally with the case of contact wear it is because the contacts were worn for long periods of time when they were not extended wear styles or the person failed to clean and correctly use the contacts on a routine basis.

The symptoms of keratoconus are slow to develop and typically start with blurred vision in one or both eyes that occurs when looking at objects both near and far. The person may learn to accommodate by squinting to change the light entering into the eye, producing a clearer image. Often there is redness, irritation and commonly rubbing or scratching of the eye is a habit that the person develops, causing further potential damage to the eye's surface.

Treatment of this eye condition :

There is no drug therapy treatment for the condition and for most people the vision can be corrected with Keratoconus contact lens prescriptions that are based on the specific prescription for each eye.

It is important to note that both eyes may progress with the disease at different rates and times, so frequent checks with your eye doctor may be required to effectively manage the eyesight.

In less that 10% of all patients corneal transplants may be required to treat the most severe cases of the disease.

The new styles of keratoconus contact lens products are designed to be custom fitted to each eye. The lenses will have a variety of different shapes to correctly match the protrusion of the cornea that occurs because of the condition.

They can be rigid lenses or soft lenses and both have their merits based on the particular eye shape and vision correction required.

However, with both options there is typically several fittings and test lenses that need to be worn and tested to meet the needs of the wearer.

Different manufacturers of Keratoconus contact lens products will indicate if the lenses they provide are suitable for mild, moderate or severe cases of the condition. Since patient comfort with any style of lens is essential it is best to work with an eye doctor that has experience in fitting lenses for this unique eye shape and condition.