Keratoconus is characterised by the progressive thinning of the cornea along with irregularities of the corneal surface. With keratoconus, the cornea thins and bulges into an irregular cone shape, resulting in reduced vision.
The following may increase the risk of developing keratoconus:
Genetics. Patients with a family history of keratoconus or with certain systemic disorders, such as Down syndrome, are at a higher risk of developing keratoconus.
Eye rubbing. Chronic eye rubbing is associated with developing keratoconus. It may also be a risk factor for disease progression.
Age. Keratoconus is often discovered in the teenage years. Generally, young patients with advanced keratoconus are more likely to need some form of surgical intervention as the disease progresses.
In the early stages, spectacles or soft contact lenses may be used to correct vision. As the cornea becomes thinner and steeper, special soft or rigid gas permeable (RGP) contact lenses are often required to correct vision more adequately. In very advanced cases, where contact lenses fail to improve vision, a corneal transplant may be needed. This type of intervention is rare however since the introduction of corneal cross-linking (CXL).
