Blurry Vision And Night Blindness? Keratoconus May Be To Blame
Posted on: 27 April 2017
Have you noticed that your vision is seeming a bit more blurry? Does this symptoms seem to get worse at night or when you're in a dimly lit place? One possible cause is a vitamin A deficiency, but these days, thanks to fortified foods, few people are actually deficient in vitamin A. Another more likely option to consider is that you're developing a condition called keratoconus. Here's a closer look at this condition.
What is keratoconus?
Keratoconus is a eye condition that results in changes to the shape of the cornea, which is the thin, transparent covering of your eye. The condition may cause your cornea to become thicker or thinner in certain areas, which changes the angle at which light enters your eye. When the angle of light entry changes, your vision becomes blurry. This is most noticeable when there is not a lot of light, since the rays of light that enter your eye will be more narrow.
What causes keratoconus?
Some people are just genetically predisposed to this condition. While many patients begin showing signs during the teenage years, others don't notice the blurriness until adulthood.
In some cases, keratoconus can be a sign of another more serious underlying condition, such as an autoimmune disorder. So, if you are diagnosed with keratoconus, your eye doctor will likely recommend seeing your general practitioner for some more testing to ensure there's nothing more sinister going on.
How is keratoconus diagnosed?
Eye doctors can diagnose this condition pretty easily with just a few simple tests. They'll test your vision with a classic, eye-chart-style test. You may be asked to read letters in varying light conditions. Then, they'll examine your cornea with a special type of microscope tool to measure its thickness in certain areas.
How is the condition treated?
In mild cases, the condition can be managed with just glasses or contact lenses. The lenses adjust the angle at which light enters your eyes, allowing you to see more clearly. However, if the cornea keeps changing shape, you may eventually need to use medicated eye drops to slow the progression of the condition. In the most severe cases, you may need surgery to remove your cornea and replace it with an artificial or donor cornea. However, this is usually only done as a last resort after other treatments have failed. If you have an autoimmune condition that's found to perpetuate your eye disease, treating it properly will help keep your keratoconus from worsening. For more information, contact a business such as Hudson Vision Source.
Share