Keratoconus is an ocular condition in which the normal structure (shape) of the cornea gradually thins, creating a conical type of cornea and resulting in a gradual increase in astigmatism. It is a condition that usually occurs in the ages of 15-20 years.

 

People who have keratoconus, depending on the type of keratoconus and its extent, have very different needs when it comes to its treatment. Some can achieve very good vision with the use of simple glasses of small degrees, some can mainly see better with one eye, some achieve good vision only with the use of contact lenses and with wearing their auxiliary glasses the possibilities are significantly limited.

 

Therefore, if we want to help and make life easier for the people close to us with keratoconus, we should consider the following:

 

• People with keratoconus require some extra time during the day to apply their contact lenses. The use of special contact lenses should not be continuous for many hours (maximum 14-16 per day), so a person with keratoconus should be given the required time for breaks, in order to rest their eyes.
• You need to plan some activities differently, based on their needs. Activities that require a lot of detail or night driving can be especially demanding for people with keratoconus. Therefore, you should plan work shifts, travel curriculums, lighting conditions and workplace ergonomics, according to their needs.
• People with special contact lenses, recommended by specialized eye health professionals, have better vision. Patients with keratoconus are often provided with different correction prescriptions, which have significant differences. This is perfectly normal. Since their astigmatism is asymmetric, there are many different degrees in the patient's visual specter, and only some of them can be corrected with glasses. In addition, the optical diaphragm of our eye, the pupil, changes its diameter based on the current lighting conditions. This fact alone could result in different prescriptions. Better vision can only be achieved with the use of special contact lenses (ex. Delta Conus, Epsilon, Dualascon). Optical health professionals can choose the best possible solution for the needs of each individual.

You can also make an appointment with our specialists, who can help you with the application of such lenses.

 

 

Keratoconus results in a gradual increase of astigmatism (abnormal astigmatism) and myopia until the age when its development stops. It is an optical condition that starts in most cases at the age of 15-20 years and develops until about the age of 40-45 years, without this being a standard rule, since the development can stop at an earlier age as well.

 

A main characteristic of patients with undiagnosed keratoconus is the frequent change of spectacles, as well as the fact that they complain of distortion and blurring of the images.

 

If you are familiar with these symptoms or if you have been diagnosed with keratoconus, here are some basic things to look out for:

 

1. You should NOT rub your eyes with pressure over the corneal area. If you feel the need to rub your eyes, rub with your fingertips only on the tip of each eyelid, where the upper and lower eyelids come into contact, away from the corneal area.

 

2. You should NOT be near high temperature sources, such as fire, grill, etc. If you often need to be near such high temperature sources due to your daily routine or your work, use glasses with protective filters that limit infrared radiation (heat). Your optician can advise and supply you with such glasses.

 

Keratoconus is an optical condition in which the cornea i.e., the transparent tissue at the front of the iris, shows a greater curvature in one area and is often thinner.

This can be accompanied by blurred and distorted vision, due to the fact that the light is not focused properly in the depth of the eye, often showing myopia and abnormal astigmatism.

Contact lenses are the main solutions which correct vision in such cases, and they should have a personalized design for everyone. Different types of lenses are ideal for different people or types of keratoconus. The optometrists who apply such lenses inform the patients of the different solutions, providing the best fit for their case and needs.

 

The best types of contact lenses for keratoconus in 2021 are the following:

 

• Scleral lenses: These lenses have a larger diameter than the standard soft lenses, which are applied to the white of the eye without touching the cornea, creating a stable optical surface that corrects sharp visual aberrations and distortions. For people who are participating in sports and generally have an active daily life, we recommend the EPSILON scleral contact lenses, which are the most popular choice for keratoconus.
• Personalized soft lenses: These are specially designed which include astigmatism treatments, and due to the special design in their optical zone, they significantly reduce the conical shape of the cornea. The advanced soft keratoconus lenses DELTA CONUS in most cases offer the same quality of vision as the scleral lenses. Also due to the choice of materials, they can be frequently replaced, usually within three to six months.
• Scleral air permeable corneas: This is the type of lens that has been used most frequently, because it used to be the only type of contact lens that could correct keratoconus, for several decades. The size of the lenses is smaller than the cornea and combined with its stable construction material, it provides good visual acuity and at the same time provides continuous alternation of tears under the lens. Its reduced stability, compared to other types of lenses, increases the feeling of a foreign body on the eyelids, making the its adaptation more time consuming to new users. Such lenses are DUALASCON.