Overview
Keratoconus is a condition in which the cornea — the clear front surface of the eye — gradually thins and bulges into a cone shape. This distorts vision in ways glasses can't fully correct. It typically begins in adolescence or the early 20s and can progress for years before stabilizing. Modern treatments preserve vision in the vast majority of patients today.
Symptoms
- •Frequent prescription changes (especially astigmatism)
- •Vision that cannot be fully corrected with glasses
- •Halos and ghosting around lights
- •Increased light sensitivity
- •Eye irritation or chronic itchy eyes
- •Difficulty driving at night
Causes & Risk Factors
- •Genetics (family history is a strong risk factor)
- •Chronic eye rubbing (the largest modifiable risk factor)
- •Allergic eye disease that leads to rubbing
- •Down syndrome and certain connective-tissue disorders
- •Onset typically between ages 10 and 30
How It's Diagnosed
Diagnosis requires corneal topography (a detailed map of the corneal shape) and often pachymetry (corneal thickness measurement). We track these measurements over time to detect progression.
Treatment Options
- 1Glasses for early/mild keratoconus
- 2Specialty contact lenses: rigid gas permeable, scleral, hybrid lenses
- 3Corneal cross-linking — a same-day procedure that halts progression in active disease
- 4Intacs corneal ring implants in select cases
- 5Corneal transplant for advanced cases (rare with modern care)
When to See an Eye Doctor
Anyone with rapidly changing prescriptions or vision that can't be sharp with glasses — especially under age 30 — should be evaluated. Earlier intervention with cross-linking prevents progression to advanced disease.
Related Service
Keratoconus is detected and monitored through our Keratoconus Diagnosis & Management service.
Learn About Keratoconus