Unsightly Bulges

Keratoconus causes progressive thinning of the cornea, the transparent outer covering at the front of the eye. This leads to the development of a cone-like bulge, adversely altering vision. This condition occurs in about one in every 2,000 individuals, usually first diagnosed in patients in their late teens or early twenties. Initial symptoms usually include slight blurring and increased photosensitivity. Keratoconus may progress for a decade or two and then stabilize. Soft contact lenses may be used early on to correct mild nearsightedness and astigmatism, followed by rigid gas permeable (rgp) contacts if the cornea continues to thin and change shape. In severe cases, a corneal transplant may be required. A new treatment called corneal collagen cross linking may help strengthen the corneas of keratoconus patients. It involves a single application of riboflavin eye drops activated with low dose ultraviolet light for about a half hour.