Keratoconus
Information
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What
are the signs and symptoms of Keratoconus?
What Is Keratoconus?
Keratoconus is a degenerative eye disease that causes the cornea
to thin and bulge, creating a cone-like shape. Because the 
cornea is responsible for
refracting most of the light that comes into the eye, any abnormality of the
cornea can result in significant visual impairment. For those
suffering from keratoconus, the SynergEyes® hybrid contact lenses provides the
comfort of a soft contact lens, and the visual clarity of a "hard" or
rigid gas permeable lens.
It is
important to remember that only an eye care practitioner can diagnose
keratoconus. If you would like to learn more about keratoconus, or find out if
you are a candidate for SynergEyes® hybrid contact lenses, contact us at
Jos. Camilleri Optician.
For
further keratoconus support, you may visit the websites of the
National Keratoconus
Foundation
and the
Global Keratoconus
Foundation.
What Causes Keratoconus?
The exact
cause of keratoconus is not known; however, there are many theories on what may
trigger this disease. It is important to note that no one theory provides a
complete explanation, and it is likely that keratoconus is caused by a
combination of things.
It is
believed that genetics, the environment, and the endocrine system all play a
role in keratoconus:
·
Genetics: Although keratoconus sometimes
affects more than one member of the same family, current research indicates
that there is less than a one in ten chance that a blood relative of a
keratoconic patient will have keratoconus.
·
Environmental Factors: Keratoconus may also be
associated with overexposure to ultraviolet rays from the sun, excessive eye
rubbing, a history of poorly fit contact lenses and chronic eye irritation.
·
Endocrine System: Another hypothesis is that the endocrine system (which dictates the
release of hormones) may be involved, since keratoconus is often first
diagnosed in adolescence.
Who Does Keratoconus Affect?
Keratoconus
most often appears in a person's late teenage years; although it has been
diagnosed in people in their forties and fifties.
The eye
disease has been estimated to occur in roughly one out of every 2,000 people in
the population. No significant gender, ethnic, geographical, or social pattern
has been established, and keratoconus occurs in all parts of the world.
What Are the Signs and Symptoms of
Keratoconus?
Blurred and distorted vision
and frequent eyeglass prescription changes are the first signs of keratoconus.
However, blurred and distorted vision occurs as a result of many other types of
eye disease, so it is important to visit an experienced eye care practitioner
for diagnosis. Other symptoms of keratoconus include:
·
Increased light sensitivity
·
Difficultly driving at night
·
Halo's and ghosting (especially at
night)
·
Eye strain
·
Headaches and general eye pain
·
Eye irritation and excessive eye rubbing
Soft
Contact Lenses
In its
mildest form, keratoconus may be treated with soft contact lenses. However, as
keratoconus becomes more advanced, success with soft lenses becomes very limited.
This is because the soft lens drapes over the irregular corneal surface causing
the front surface of the lens to assume the same irregular shape as the cornea.
This abnormal shape is the reason for the blurred and distorted vision.
Rigid Gas
Permeable (RGP) Lenses
RGP lenses
are made from a rigid material that does not drape over the irregularly shaped
cornea, but rather, holds its shape and creates a layer of tears between the
cornea and the back surface of the lens to neutralize the irregular shape of
the cornea. Consequently, RGPs provide better vision than soft lenses, but they
are often uncomfortable, inconvenient, and centre poorly. Rigid lens wearers
also experience the irritation of debris collecting under the lens, and rigid
lenses move when you blink and may dislodge during activity.
Piggyback
Lenses
Many
practitioners will “piggyback” RGP lenses over soft lenses to provide improved
comfort and increased wear time. This approach may be more successful than soft
or RGP lenses alone, but because of the complexities of handling and care,
possible eye health problems, and centration difficulty, success rates are
still marginal.
SynergEyes
Hybrid Contact Lenses
SynergEyes hybrid contact lenses are the latest in contact lens technology
for keratoconus. SynergEyes utilizes revolutionary hybrid technology to combine
the crisp vision of a high-oxygen RGP lens with the all-day comfort and
convenience of a soft lens. No
other contact lens available today can provide all of these benefits in a
single product.
Ready to
try SynergEyes hybrid contact lenses?
Living
with Keratoconus
Once you
have been diagnosed with keratoconus, it is important to accept the eye disease
as a fact of life; however, there are a number of ways to adapt to keratoconus
while maintaining the most consistent and clear vision possible. Through
continuous communication with your eye care practitioner, you will better
understand your condition, which often leads to a greater sense of well being
for many keratoconus patients. Products like SynergEyes hybrid contact lenses
offer revolutionary benefits that go beyond using an RGP or soft contact lens.
With SynergEyes you can have the best of both worlds.