What Is Keratoconus?
Keratoconus is classified as a progressive eye disorder that causes an irregular cornea that thins and bulges over time, resulting in distorted or blurred vision. With an irregular cornea, individuals suffering from keratoconus may need to seek out an optometrist or specialized eye doctor who understands the condition and its available treatments. If you're currently living in the Lehigh Valley area, including Allentown, Bethlehem, or Easton, PA, Advanced Family Eye Care can help you find the relief you're seeking from keratoconus.
What Are the Underlying Causes of Keratoconus?
Before making an appointment with an eye doctor in the Lehigh Valley area including Allentown, Bethlehem, or Easton, PA, learning the potential underlying causes of keratoconus can help you have a more thorough understanding of the condition itself. While there is no one definitive cause of keratoconus, it is thought that genetic history, eye rubbing, and even various medical conditions or autoimmune diseases may contribute to the formation and development of keratoconus as time passes.
What Can Treat Keratoconus?
Proper visits to an optometrist near you annually can help determine if you require specialized conical lenses or if you require scleral lenses to provide the relief and vision improvement you're seeking. The following lenses help with keratoconus:
• Scleral Lenses: Scleral lenses are designed specifically for an individual's irregular cornea shape, which can improve vision and provide relief from strain, blurriness, and the inability to focus.
• Conical Lenses: Conical lenses are also used to help suit the shape of your eyes as they transform or as keratoconus progresses.
• Traditional Glasses and Contact Lenses: If you're experiencing the earlier stages of keratoconus, it may be possible to correct your vision and find the relief you're seeking with traditional prescription glasses and contact lenses.
• Intacs: In some cases, implantable devices may be suggested or recommended to help in the flattening of an individual's cornea, depending on the progression of the disorder.
• Corneal Transplant: In severe or irreversible instances, a corneal transplant may be suggested to help restore vision.
How Are Treatment Options Decided?
Various scans, imaging, and diagnostics tests are conducted to form an accurate diagnosis of keratoconus, regardless of an individual's age and the symptoms that are exhibited. Specific instruments, such as the profilometer instrument, can help improve scleral lens fittings with high precision, ensuring custom-fitted lenses that suit your exact needs based on the progression of the condition.
If you're searching for an optometrist near you, Advanced Eye Care in the Lehigh Valley area including Allentown, Bethlehem, or Easton, PA, can help. Learn more about your options for a keratoconus diagnosis by contacting us directly today.