What is keratoconous?

Keratoconus (pronounced keh-rah-toe-cone-us) is an eye condition that affects the cornea on the front of your eye. It usually starts in your teens or 20s and generally worsens over time, finally becoming stable by the time you reach 40. As the condition progresses, it causes changes in the regular shape, strength and thickness of the cornea. The way this affects your sight will depend on the severity of these corneal changes, so that some people experience fewer sight problems than others. It is usually present in both eyes, although one eye may be more affected than the other.

Keratoconus is not considered to be an inherited condition but for around 10 per cent (1 in 10) of people who have keratoconus, it does affect more than one member of their family. However, most people have no family history of the condition.

It’s possible that people who have allergies might be more likely to develop keratoconus. Allergies can cause your eyes to become itchy and uncomfortable, making you more likely to rub them.

Keratoconus can affect different people to different extents, but it does not cause blindness.

In the very early stages of the condition, your vision may not be affected very much at all. However, as your keratoconus progresses and your cornea changes its shape, your vision will become more blurred.

You may be more sensitive to light (photophobic) and experience glare, leading to discomfort and difficulty seeing things in brighter lit conditions.

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