Keratoconus
Diagnosis, staging and treatment
The cornea is the transparent tissue that is in the front of the eye and whose function is to focus the light rays. In keratoconus, the cornea becomes thin and protrudes forward in the form of a cone, this change in the curvature of the cornea causes irregular astigmatism and therefore a blurred and distorted vision. Keratoconus usually occurs in adolescence and young adults tending to progress and stabilize around 35 years of age.
It is usually a condition that affects both eyes, the symptoms are blurred and / or distorted vision, sensitivity to light, increased refraction (myopia and astigmatism), deep and abrupt visual loss in case of hydrops (late stages of keratoconus in which the cornea swells and begins to heal).
Keratoconus is diagnosed with a complete ophthalmologic examination that includes visual acuity, refraction with retinoscopy and evaluation of the anterior segment of the eye with emphasis on the cornea. To be able to determine with certainty the keratoconus stage it is necessary to carry out a study called corneal topography, the topography is a detailed map of the cornea that gives us the values of corneal thickness and power (among many other values), essential information to be able to offer a personalized treatment
How is keratoconus treated?
The treatment varies according to the degree or stage of the keratoconus. When symptoms are mild, astigmatism can be corrected through the use of glasses, the use of a rigid contact lens or scleral lens may later be necessary.
Among the surgical options for the treatment of keratoconus is corneal crosslinking, during the procedure, drops of riboflavin are applied to the cornea and ultraviolet (UV) light is applied with a special lamp, this generates chemical bonds in the cornea (cross-linking of collagen) to strengthen the cornea and prevent further slimming and bulging, or in other words stop the progression of keratoconus.
Other surgical options are the placement of intracorneal rings or segments whose function is to flatten the curvature of the cornea and thus improve vision. Ultimately, patients with very advanced keratoconus may require a cornea transplant, this involves replacing the diseased cornea with a healthy donor cornea tissue.