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
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 (it means that your eye cannot focus or see effectively as well as it should). As a result, you may need new eyeglasses or prescriptions often.
– Eye redness, eye pain.
– Not being able to wear lenses. They may no longer fit you properly and they are uncomfortable and annoying.
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 in the early stage, we will make a cross-linking to the cornea, but if it in the late stages we will make a corneal transplant.
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Collagen cross-linkin:
- Corneal cross-linking is a procedure used to strengthen corneas. At 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. Doing this process helps to flatten or strengthen your cornea, keeping it from swelling further. Corneal cross-linking is an outpatient procedure that typically lasts for about half an hour.
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Corneal transplant:
- Of course, the vision varies a great deal after the corneal transplantation and continues to change and improve for many months. Perhaps at the beginning of the period after the surgery it starts out very poor and gradually improves, sometimes it becomes excellent immediately after the surgery, but also it could take up to a year to develop good and stable vision. Let us know more about the detailed process for the corneal transplant.
The Day of Surgery
The eyelids are gently opened. The doctor will measure the size of the cornea of the eye for transplant surgery. The diseased or infected cornea (the cone shape) is removed carefully from the eye. Then the thin donor cornea is stitched into place. When the operation is over, and the necessary additional work within the eye, such as the removal of a cataract, is completed. The ophthalmologist will usually place protection or a shield over your eye.
After Surgery
If you are an outpatient, you will have a short stay in the recovery area and you will go home. You have to take in your consideration to have someone drive you home. An examination at the doctor’s office will be scheduled for the following day.
You essentially will need to:
– Be careful not to press or rub your eyes.
– Continue normal daily activities except exercise
– Use the eye drops as prescribed
– Try to wear eyeglasses as advised by your doctor
– Depending upon the health of the eye and rate of it is healing your ophthalmologist will decide when to remove the stitches.
So, we know that Keratoconus is an eye disease that may or may not cause loss of visual sharpness of your eye that is close enough to be considered a disability. from another meaning, keratoconus itself is not a disability, but vision loss caused by keratoconus may be close enough to qualify as a disability.
How Royal Spanish center expert doctors deal with Keratoconus?
We recommend to visit the Royal Spanish Ophthalmology Center immediately if you have any of the above symptoms. The experienced physicians will conduct the necessary tests and determine the treatment that best suits your condition. You can rest assured that the Royal Spanish Center offers the best facilities and equipment in the emirate to face such situations, and do not worry you will regain your ability to enjoy life seeing. Just hurry up to book your consultation – Keratoconus Surgery
Keratoconus Surgery
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Spanish Center for Eyes, LASIK and Cosmetics offers comprehensive eye-care packages for international patients, and our dedicated professionals will take care of all aspects- right from helping to plan the package to ensure their treatment period is comfortable and hassle – free.