Keratoconus may present very gradually. What is noticed is a slight blur to vision, increased need for a new glasses prescription, and that things appear better during the day and worse at night when driving, perhaps. Also because these symptoms are very similar to what is experienced with normal mild short sight or astigmatism the issue may not be diagnosed straight away.
Understanding the signs of early keratoconus symptoms is important as the disease may progress to change the cornea’s shape over time. A visit to a skilled Eye hospital may present signs of this in its initial stages which may not yet seriously affect vision.
What Is Keratoconus?
Keratoconus is a condition that which the cornea, the clear front part of the eye changes to become thinner and also it transitions from its normal round shape to a much more conical shape. This causes issues with light focus within the eye which in turn can cause blurry or distorted vision.
The National Eye Institute reports that keratoconus is a diagnosis which presents in teens and young adults. It may cause nearsightedness, astigmatism, blurred vision, double vision and light sensitivity.
Unlike changing the power of glasses which is a simple fix this corneal disease has structural changes in the cornea. Also what we see is that rate of progression may very well differ from person to person.
Early Keratoconus Symptoms That Are Easy to Miss
One cause of keratoconus going unnoted is that at the start it may present very mildly. Vision may still appear to function well enough especially when there is a difference between each eye.
Frequent Changes in Glasses Power
Need at times to get a new glasses prescription is normal. But if you find your short term correction for myopia or astigmatism is changing often over a short time frame that may require a closer look.
Frequent changes in prescriptions is a recognized keratoconus symptoms, which we also see to be when the astigmatism amount or direction is variable. At Moorfields Eye Hospital we also report vision worsening which is a very common feature of this condition.
If your glasses which did a great job a few months out of a sudden do not fit the bill any more, talking to an Eye doctor may help you determine what is up.
Blurred Vision Even With New Glasses
Another indicator is vision which does not improve as expected even after trying different spectacles.
People at times report that letters in a text appear distorted, stretched out or shadowed. What we see may also include straight lines which are not present. What is happening is that an irregular cornea is not properly focusing the light.
These changes do not present as typical refractive errors and may be a sign of a base corneal disease which will require more in depth assessment.
Ghost Images or Double Outlines
Some report that they see very light versions of the main image around letters, objects or lights. In the white of a text on a dark background for instance you may see a secondary image of the text.
This visual effect is also to see when you are reading subtitles, using digital screens or while driving at night.
Increasing Glare and Light Sensitivity
Bright sun, headlamps and also intense indoor lighting may wear you out over time. Some folks report seeing halos or glare around car headlamps well before they are aware their cornea is changing.
Sensory to bright light is a known symptom of keratoconus.
If you have noticed that night driving which was not a problem before you got your current glasses has become difficult, it may be of value to bring that up at your next Eye care exam
One Eye Seems Much Worse Than the Other
Keratoconus usually affects both eyes, though which are more so can be different.
A person may put a hand over the non weakened eye and all of a sudden see how impaired the affected one is. Also because the better eye is working to support the weaker one out in day to day life this difference is often not noticed until brought to attention.
Regular check ups are a must in this case of teens and young adults which see no cause for vision changes.
Eye Rubbing Should Not Be Ignored
People report that they may not think twice about rubbing itchy or irritated eyes. But at the first sign of persistent eye rubbing that is accompanied by vision change or major allergy issues that is something to pay attention to.
Instead of repeatedly rubbing your itchy eyes, bring up the issue with an Eye specialist. Appropriate eye treatments for what is causing the irritation may reduce the tendency to rub and in turn protect the ocular surface.
How Is Keratoconus Diagnosed?
Keratoconus is a condition that we can’t diagnose based on blurry vision alone. For an accurate diagnosis you will require a detailed eye exam.
An ophthalmologist will determine your glasses prescription, do a close up examination of the cornea with a slit lamp which also looks at the cornea’s curve and shape. Corneal topography or tomography will produce a very detailed map of the corneal surface and also in identifying very small changes which may not come out in a basic vision test.
Moor fields Eye Hospital reports that at early onset of keratoconus some patients present before any visual impairment is reported which is during the eye exam.
Early identification of the condition is especially important in young patients which also is the case because keratoconus does present differently in each person.
What Are the Keratoconus Treatment Options?
The right keratoconus treatment is based on the stage of the condition, that is whether it is still progressing and what impact it has on vision.
In mild cases glasses or contact lenses may present an adequate solution. As the cornea’s shape becomes more irregular, specialized contact lenses may be recommended to improve visual quality.
For progressive keratoconus corneal cross linking is a treatment which may be put into play. The procedure is meant to strengthen the cornea and to also reduce the chance of the disease’s progression. The National Eye Institute reports that corneal cross linking is a recognized option in the management of keratoconus.
In more advanced cases we see the need for different procedures. Should large areas of the cornea scar or the patient be left without useful vision from the use of contact lenses then we may look to corneal transplant as a solution.
An Eye specialist will determine the best course of keratoconus treatment which is determined after evaluation of corneal thickness, shape, vision and signs of progression.
Why Early Detection Matters
Finding out that you have keratoconus early doesn’t mean right away that you will require treatment or surgery. Some patients may just require close observation.
What is key is to determine if the cornea is stable or changing
Ignoring repeat prescriptions, unexplained glare or progressive vision distortion may go unnoticed. Timely Eye care allows us to monitor the cornea at its growth and discuss treatment options as they present.
At Vasan Eye care we see patients that report unusual visual changes in which case we do a in depth eye evaluation to determine if what they are experiencing is keratoconus, a normal refractive error or some other eye issue.
Conclusion
Changing out lenses, blurred text, night time glare, ghost images or unexpected astigmatism.
Recognizing keratoconus symptoms at an early stage makes a difference which is because an ophthalmologist is able to examine the cornea, monitor for changes and to put forth the right keratoconus treatment as and when it is needed.
If your prescription is not improving with new glasses it may be time to have a full exam at Vasan Eye care instead of getting a new prescription. Early in which to get an evaluation is the best step in protecting your long term visual health.
Frequently Asked Questions About Keratoconus
- What is usually the first symptom of keratoconus?
Early keratoconus symptoms may present like routine astigmatism or short sight. You may notice gradual blurring of vision, frequent changes in prescription strength, glare, or slightly distorted images. As these changes may at first be mild it is possible that a comprehensive corneal exam will be required for diagnosis.
- Can keratoconus be cured completely?
At present there is no one treatment that will return every keratoconus treatment cornea to its original state. But we do have modern treatments for keratoconus which do improve vision, in some progressive cases we also have cross linking which does what it can to stabilize the cornea and to reduce further progression.
- Does keratoconus always become severe?
No. The course of this corneal disease is very variable between patients. In some cases it is mild which may last for a long time, in other cases it is more rapid. Regular follow up helps an ophthalmologist to identify the progress of the disease which in turn helps in deciding whether to do nothing, to use special contact lenses, cross linking or to go ahead with some other treatment.
- At what age does keratoconus usually start?
Keratoconus we see often presents between the teen and young adult years though diagnosis at other ages is not unknown. Young people who are seeing a change in astigmatism, blurred vision, or visual distortion out of the blue should see an Eye doctor for a full exam.
- When should I see an eye specialist for possible keratoconus?
Consult an Eye specialist if you find your prescription for lenses is changing very often, vision is still poor with new glasses, one eye is deteriorating more than the other, or you are seeing more glare and night vision issues. Sudden painful vision loss or a large quick change in your sight requires seeing the doctor right away.