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• Frequent changing of glasses or contact lens prescriptions with high levels of astigmatism
• Blurring and distortion of vision
• Glare
• Light sensitivity and irritation

The symptoms described above may not necessarily mean that you have keratoconus. However, if you experience one or more of these symptoms, contact your ophthalmologist for a complete exam.

Causes

The cause of keratoconus is unknown. It usually appears in individuals during their late teens or early twenties. The disease usually progresses for 10 to 20 years as the cornea steepens and thins. Although both eyes may be affected, one eye is usually worse than the other.

Genetics may contribute to your risk of developing keratoconus. Vigorous eye rubbing is thought to add to development and progression of the disease; therefore patients with keratoconus are advised to avoid rubbing their eyes.

Signs of keratoconus can be seen during a routine eye examination. These may include high degrees of astigmatism when checking a glasses prescription, or changes in the cornea as seen through the slit lamp microscope during an examination. The diagnosis is often confirmed using corneal topography with imaging technology that measures the curvature of the cornea and highlight irregularities consistent with keratoconus.

There are no medicines or eye drops currently available that will prevent progression of keratoconus. Symptoms from mild cases of keratoconus can be successfully treated with glasses or specially designed contact lenses. 

A customizable oversized hard contact lens device called Prosthetic Rehabilitation of the Ocular Surface Ecosystem (PROSE) can also improve vision for many patients with keratoconus.  When vision is no longer satisfactory with glasses or contact lenses, a corneal transplant may be recommended.

Collagen cross-linking is a treatment that strengthens the cornea and may slow the progression of keratoconus. Collagen cross-linking is offered to patients that show signs of progression on topography (corneal photos) and who meet specific criteria. Kellogg Eye Center is among the most experienced ophthalmology programs in the nation to offer corneal cross-linking (also called collagen cross-linking). It is important to talk to your eye doctor about each treatment option available.