Keratoconus – What to do when you are diagnosed

Keratoconus can start in teenagers, young adults and people who regularly 'rub' their eyes. Specialist diagnostic equipment like a corneal topographer (an instrument that measures corneal shape and contour) not normally found in your local or high street optometrist are needed to pick up the symptoms for keratoconus in these early stages.

Most people have never heard of 'keratoconus', however it is an eye disease that is more common than you would imagine. The official estimate is that about 1 in 2,000 people suffer from the disease but in fact the figure is more likely to be closer to 1 in 500.

Keratoconus results in an irregular corneal surface that causes the patient blurred, double vision and image distortion caused by the the refraction of light through the irregular cornea.

In the early stages of keratoconus diagnosis is difficult as the symptoms are similar to other eye conditions. It can start in teenagers, young adults and people who regularly 'rub' their eyes. Specialist diagnostic equipment like a corneal topographer (an instrument that measures corneal shape and contour) not normally found in your local or high street optometrist are needed to pick up the symptoms for keratoconus in these early stages.

1. Eye prescriptions become unstable and changing due to the changing shape of the cornea
2. There is a blurring and distortion of vision
3. Significant progression of astigmatism
4. Sudden decrease in vision caused by corneal swelling
5. Glare
6. Irritation of the eyes causing more eye rubbing
7. Light sensitivity

It is important to get a correct diagnosis as soon as possible so that ALL options for treatment can be considered seriously.

The normal patient journey once keratoconus has been identified is

1. Monitoring of the disease with the optician and changes to contact lens or glasses prescription.
2. As the disease progresses, hard, toric lenses and referral to the NHS ophthalmologist for further monitoring.
3. If the disease continues to progress further, consideration for corneal graft in conjunction with NHS.

What to do when YOU are diagnosed with Keratoconus

Today, no one should have to receive a corneal graft as a consequence of keratoconus, if it is diagnosed and treated early enough, as there are now established treatments available that have been used in Europe for the past 10 years or more. Whilst the long term stabilty of these treatments cannot be proven yet, the past ten years has shown that these treatments do keep the cornea stable for a least ten years.

The first thing to do once you have been diagnosed with keratoconus is to read up about it.

You should find information on the following treatments:

1. Intacs for keratoconus
2. Corneal Collagen Cross-linking
3. Topography Guided Custom Ablation with Corneal Collagen Cross-linking

The first treatment, Corneal Collagen Cross-linking has been successfully used in Europe for the past ten years. It 'fixes' the eye by inducing a rapid 'cross-linking' of collagen fibres thereby strengthening the structure of the cornea and stopping it from weakening further.

The second treatment, Topography Guided Custom Ablation with Corneal Collagen Cross-linking is a specialist treatment undertaken by just a few clinics in the world.

Topography Guided Custom Ablation uses a highly refined excimer laser to reduce the steepness of the keratoconus bulge on the surface of the eye and thereby reverse the loss of acuity of vision for the patient.
Once this has been done the cornea is 'fixed' in its new position with Corneal Collagen Cross-linking.

If you have been diagnosed with keratoconus you and your parents and guardians (if you are a teenager) have to take control of the treatments that are being offered.

Optometrists and Ophthalmologists will not necessarily give you the option to stabilise the cornea through Corneal Collagen Cross-linking. It is up to you to investigate these options before your vision deteriorates to the extent that you only option is a corneal graft.

For more information you can visit www.accuvision.co.uk a clinic that are able to offer both advanced treatments for keratoconus in the UK.