What is Keratoconus?
Simply put, keratoconus is a progressive disease of the eye that affects the shape and structure of the cornea. Normally round in shape, the cornea starts to thin out and bulge into a cone-like shape, which deflects the light entering the eye on its way to the retina, causing distorted vision. As the shape of the cornea begins to deteriorate further, near-sightedness can develop along with abnormal astigmatism, which can tend to worsen the condition further. In addition to distorted vision, patients experience glare and light sensitivity, as well as fluctuations in their vision clarity and strength, often resulting in complications such as streaking, multiple images, and sensitivity to light.
Keratoconus is very common around the world, and can start to develop as early as the teenage years in some cases.
Keratoconus Symptoms
Keratoconus often attacks and affects both eyes and can lead to a very different vision level between the two eyes. Its symptoms can differ from one eye to another and can change over time.
In the initial stage, keratoconus symptoms include:
- The soft blurring of vision
- Slightly disfigured vision, where straight fine lines look curved or bent
- Increase in sensitivity to light and glow.
In later stages, keratoconus symptoms often include:
- More distorted vision and blurry effect appear
- Increased astigmatism or nearsightedness
- Eye redness, eye pain.
- Not being able to wear lenses, as they may no longer fit you properly and are uncomfortable.
What Causes Keratoconus?
To treat the condition more effectively, we have to understand how it is developed in the first place. Although the causes are not well established, there have been various studies on Keratoconus, and researchers have found a common link between the disease and an imbalance of enzymes that exist inside the cornea. This imbalance leads the cornea becoming more susceptible to oxidative damage from free radicals, enhancing the deterioration and bulging of the corneal structure.
Patients might be genetically predisposed to Keratoconus, as the condition has been known to exhibit in more than one member of the same family. That’s why it is recommended for relatives of first degree of Keratoconus patients to undergo evaluation as they are more susceptible than others.
Beyond genetics, there are other factors that contribute to the development of Keratoconus, including excessive exposure to harmful UV rays in sunlight, rubbing the eyes vigorously, and even badly fitted contact lenses that cause chronic eye irritation.
Treatments
According to the stage of the Keratoconus Surgery and the level that the case reached, the treatment defined. There are two different types for the keratoconus according to its stage. If the disease is in the early stage, we will make a cross-linking to the cornea, but if it’s in the late stages we will make a corneal transplant.
- Collagen Cross-linking: Corneal cross-linking is a procedure used to strengthen corneas. During this treatment, the doctor uses a special ultraviolet light and specific eye drops (usually vitamin B-12) to strengthen the cornea and its collagen fibers. This helps flatten or strengthen your cornea, preventing further swelling. The procedure is typically an outpatient procedure lasting about half an hour.
- Corneal Transplant: Vision may vary significantly after the transplant, improving gradually over time, sometimes taking up to a year to stabilize and improve. Let us know more about the detailed process for the corneal transplant.
The Day of Surgery
Surgery is often done on an outpatient basis as mentioned before. Upon arrival, you will be given eye drops and medication to help you relax. The surgery is painless. The procedure begins with the eye being numbed, and you won’t feel any pain during the process. The eyelids are gently opened, and the doctor will remove the diseased cornea, replacing it with a thin donor cornea. Once the operation is complete, additional work may be done if necessary. A protective shield is often placed over the eye.
After Surgery
If you’re an outpatient, you’ll have a short recovery time before going home. Make sure to arrange for someone to drive you home. A follow-up appointment will be scheduled for the next day.
You will need to:
- Be careful not to press or rub your eyes.
- Continue normal daily activities except exercise.
- Use eye drops as prescribed.
- Wear eyeglasses as advised by your doctor.
- Depending on the healing rate, your ophthalmologist will decide when to remove the stitches.
How Royal Spanish Center Expert Doctors Deal with Keratoconus?
We recommend visiting the Royal Spanish Ophthalmology Center if you have any of the above symptoms. Our experienced physicians will conduct the necessary tests and determine the treatment that best suits your condition. You can be assured that the Royal Spanish Center offers the best facilities and equipment to face such situations, and you will regain your ability to enjoy life seeing. Just hurry up to book your consultation for Keratoconus Surgery!
Contact us for your Keratoconus consultation today!
If you’re looking for fast, efficient, and affordable Keratoconus surgery in Abu Dhabi, the Royal Spanish Center can help you out with consultation sessions and discounts of up to 15%!
Our Services:
Spanish Center for Eyes, LASIK, and Cosmetics offers comprehensive eye-care packages for international patients. Our dedicated professionals will take care of all aspects, from helping to plan the package to ensuring your treatment period is comfortable and hassle-free.
