Condition

Keratoconus: Corneal Thinning and Cone Deformity

Keratoconus is a progressive eye condition in which the normally round cornea thins and begins to bulge outward into a cone-like shape. This distorts vision by scattering light as it enters the eye, causing blurry and distorted sight that cannot be fully corrected with regular glasses.

Video Overview

Keratoconus: Corneal Thinning and Cone Deformity

Symptoms

Progressive blurring and distortion of vision
Increased sensitivity to light and glare
Frequent changes in glasses prescription
Difficulty wearing contact lenses comfortably
Double vision or multiple ghost images
Sudden worsening of vision (hydrops — emergency)

Causes

Genetic factors (family history in 10% of cases)
Frequent eye rubbing weakening corneal tissue
Allergic eye disease triggering chronic rubbing
Connective tissue disorders (Marfan syndrome, Ehlers-Danlos)
Down syndrome associated with higher keratoconus risk
Often appears in teenagers and progresses until age 30-40

Treatments

Rigid gas-permeable contact lenses for mild to moderate cases
Scleral lenses that vault over the cornea
Corneal cross-linking (CXL) to halt progression
Intracorneal ring segments (Intacs) to reshape the cornea
Deep anterior lamellar keratoplasty (DALK) for advanced cases
Penetrating keratoplasty (full corneal transplant) as last resort
Stop eye rubbing — use antihistamines to control allergic urge

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