Nearsightedness - Also known as myopia, this is the inability to see distant objects clearly i.e. Road signs or billboards, whereas your ability to read a paper or computer screen clearly is preserved. Due to the inability to focus light myopia is a hallmark feature in keratoconus.
Astigmatism –This is the blurring of vision at all distances. The light focused through the eye fail to come to a single focus on the retina which can be compared to the antenna of a television. If the antenna does not receive a clear focus signal the television becomes blurred as is the case in astigmatism.
Glare & Flare- due to the disturbances in the amount of light entering the cornea, individuals with keratoconus tend to experience high sensitivity to bright lights, especially at night time. This becomes a significant problem for those who drive at night, as due to the excessive glare of street lights and the lights of incoming vehicles the eyes tend to get tired easily leading to the risk of driving without accurate sight.
Frequent changes in lens prescriptions – this is the commonest reason why Keratoconus is detected. Patients tend to notice that they have to change prescriptions for normal spectacles more frequently as they experience blurred and distorted vision even with new spectacles after a short period of time or having to convert to contact lenses as spectacles cannot correct the vision. Upon examination by an Ophthalmologist or skilled Optometrist Keratoconus is detected.
Risk factors and Risk factor prevention of keratoconus
Inherited diseases which increase the risk of Keratoconus include Retinitis Pigmentosa which is a disease which causes night blindness and progressive loss of vision and Ehler- Danlos Syndrome which is an inherited defect in the production of collagen tissue in the body which is responsible for maintaining the dome shaped structure of the cornea of the eye and Down’s syndrome. These are all inherited diseases and hence cannot be changed with lifestyle modifications.
An Antioxidant poor individual has an increased risk of Keratoconus as it is thought that free radical damage to the cornea is a leading cause of keratoconus, and antioxidants reduce the amount of free radicals in the body hence detoxifying the body. Antioxidant rich food such as colorful fruits should be consumed regularly to replenish the antioxidant stores in the body.
Infection or irritation of the conjunctivae requires immediate medical attention. Use of over the counter eye drops are frowned upon as they carry the risk of aggravating the irritation and causing damage to the eyes. A medical professional must be consulted and prescribed treatment must be taken promptly to prevent damage to the cornea and the eyes.
The Risk Associated with exposure to increased Ultraviolet radiation can be countered by wearing polarize polycarbonate sunglasses of high quality which block UV rays 100%. These are recommended for individuals who spend increased amounts of time exposed to the sun.
When buying Contact lenses they should be bought from a reputed institution and care must be taken that it is a perfect fit. Can cleaning should be done with the recommended, eye safe cleaners.
