Keratoconus
Comprehensive Eye Care
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Friday 9:00 AM–4:00PM
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Your cornea should create a round dome over the surface of your eye. Keratoconus develops when your cornea becomes thin and distorts into a cone shape. The team at West Broward Eyecare Associates in Tamarac, Florida, provides expert diagnosis and treatment for keratoconus to protect your vision and eye health.
What is Keratoconus?
Keratoconus is a relatively rare condition that develops when your corneas become thin, and their shape distorts. A healthy cornea forms a round dome over the surface of your eye. It helps to focus light as it enters your eye.
Keratoconus usually affects both eyes. When you have the condition, you develop blurry vision, similar to the effects of astigmatism, that can’t be corrected with eyeglasses or contact lenses. In addition to blurry vision, you might have other symptoms, including:
- Distorted vision (straight lines look wavy)
- Increased sensitivity to light
- Red or swollen eyes
The severity of your symptoms depends on the extent of the abnormal coning of your cornea. As your condition progresses, you might find that you can’t wear contact lenses and that wearing eyeglasses doesn’t correct your vision.
Keratoconus Q&As
WHAT CAUSES KERATOCONUS?
Keratoconus develops when your corneas are thin. However, medical researchers aren’t entirely sure why some people develop the condition and others don’t. There may be a genetic connection; your risk of developing keratoconus is higher if you have a parent or another family member who also has the condition.
There are also links between keratoconus and conditions like:
- Eczema
- Asthma
- Allergic rhinitis (hay fever)
- Connective tissue disorders
- Down syndrome
If you notice that your vision is blurry, schedule an exam with the team at West Broward Eyecare Associates for expert diagnosis and treatment of eye disease and visual acuity problems.
HOW IS KERATOCONUS DIAGNOSED?
In most cases, your eye doctor diagnoses keratoconus during your annual comprehensive eye exam. The team at West Broward Eyecare Associates uses the innovative sMap3D™ corneo-scleral topographer device. They’re the first practice in the United States to offer this state-of-the-art eye mapping technology. It creates precise maps and measurements of your eye, which help your eye doctor plan your treatment.
HOW IS KERATOCONUS TREATED?
The eye care experts at West Broward Eyecare Associates offer customized treatments for keratoconus. When glasses or contacts don’t correct your vision, they might recommend:
- Intacs
- Collagen cross-linking
- Corneal transplants
Intacs are small, implantable devices that help to flatten the curve of your cornea. Collagen cross-linking is a treatment that combines medicated eye drops and UV light to strengthen the collagen fibers in your eye. It both prevents future bulging and flattens your cornea.
If you need a corneal transplant, they offer custom-designed lenses for after your procedure to protect your vision and eye health.