Keratoconus: Symptoms, Diagnosis, and Treatment

You rely on your eyes every day, often without even thinking about it, whether driving, reading, or searching for an object or person. You’re likely concerned when you notice changes in your vision, as you don’t know what’s causing the issue. If you experience sensitivity to light and glare, especially while driving at night, as well as blurred vision, there’s a chance it could be keratoconus, a condition that rarely leads to blindness. Below, we’ll discuss the condition, the causes, and how we at Advanced Eyecare of Chino Optometry diagnose and treat the condition.

What Is Keratoconus?

Keratoconus is a disease of the eye that occurs when your cornea starts bulging forward into a cone shape with abnormal thinning. Keratoconus isn’t a condition that’s well understood, but it affects both eyes, and people start becoming affected by the disease between the ages of 10 and 25.

 

Causes and Risk Factors of Keratoconus

Even though the disease isn’t fully understood, researchers do know that both genetic and environmental factors do play a role. Risk factors for keratoconus include:

• Vigorously rubbing your eyes
• Ehlers-Danlos
• Hay fever
• Asthma
• Family history for keratoconus

According to the Mayo Clinic, research finds that 1 in 10 people with keratoconus have a parent with the same condition. Research also suggests that disrupting certain enzymes in the cornea, particularly those that influence inflammatory responses, is associated with the development of keratoconus.

Symptoms

Along with blurred or distorted vision and increased sensitivity to light and glare, other symptoms of keratoconus include sudden worsening of your vision, sudden clouding of your vision, and you frequently need to change the prescription of your eyeglasses. If you notice your eyesight rapidly worsening, we suggest making an appointment to see us.

 

Diagnosis and Treatment

To diagnose keratoconus, we review your medical history and that of your family before conducting an eye exam. If needed, we also test the shape and thickness of your cornea. Treatment for this condition depends on its severity and the speed at which it progresses. We treat mild and moderate keratoconus with different types of hard contact lenses, such as RGPs, scleral lenses, specialized soft lenses, and hybrid lenses, which is a combination of soft and hard. Cornea transplant surgery is likely necessary if we determine that your keratoconus is in the advanced stages.

 

How Much Does Keratoconus Treatment Cost?

The cost of the treatment depends on your needs. There are 50 insurance carriers that cover corneal cross-linking, which slows the progression of the disease. Among those are Humana, Blue Cross Blue Shield, and Aetna. For specialty contact lenses, the cost can range greatly depending on what the doctor deems is best suited for the severity of the condition. The range is anywhere between $1,200 to $2,000 for the fit and materials. These are typically considered medically necessary and will be covered for most vision plans. As for corneal transplant surgery, some insurance policies will cover the surgery, which can cost up to $27,000. 

If you notice any changes in your eyesight, then it’s time to pay us a visit. It’s important to jump on health issues early to prevent them from worsening. Contact Advanced Eyecare of Chino today to schedule an appointment so we can help you keep your eyes healthy.