June 24, 2025

Keratoconus is a progressive eye disease that affects the cornea — the clear, dome-shaped front surface of the eye responsible for focusing light. In individuals with keratoconus, the cornea becomes thin and gradually bulges outward into a cone shape. This distortion of the cornea leads to blurry, distorted vision, sensitivity to light, and difficulty with night vision.

It often starts mildly, but it can affect daily life if it is not managed. Finding it early gives more options to protect your vision.

What Causes Keratoconus?

The exact cause of keratoconus is not fully understood, but it is believed to be due to a combination of genetic, environmental, and hormonal factors. It often begins in the late teens or early twenties and may slowly get worse over 10–20 years. Risk factors include:

  • Family history of keratoconus
  • Frequent or hard eye rubbing (try not to rub your eyes)
  • Allergic eye diseases (like vernal conjunctivitis)
  • Certain systemic disorders such as Down syndrome or connective tissue diseases

Symptoms to Watch Out For

Keratoconus usually affects both eyes, although not always equally. Common symptoms include:

  • Blurred or distorted vision
  • Increased sensitivity to light and glare
  • Sudden or frequent changes in eyeglass prescription
  • Difficulty seeing at night
  • Seeing halos or ghosting around lights

In the early stages, vision problems may be corrected with glasses. However, as the disease progresses and the cornea becomes more irregular, glasses may no longer give clear enough vision, and special contact lenses may be needed. If vision in an eye with keratoconus suddenly drops, with pain, redness or watering, get it checked the same day.

Diagnosis

At Chetna Hospital’s Eye Department, tests used to detect keratoconus include:

  • Corneal topography – maps the shape of the cornea; this is the main test for keratoconus
  • Pachymetry – measures corneal thickness
  • Slit-lamp examination – identifies visible signs of keratoconus

Early diagnosis matters because treatment in the early or moderate stages can help stop the cornea from getting worse.

Treatment Options

The choice of treatment depends on the stage and severity of the disease:

  1. Eyeglasses or Soft Contact Lenses – for early-stage keratoconus
  2. Rigid Gas Permeable (RGP) or Hybrid Contact Lenses – for improved vision in moderate stages
  3. Corneal Collagen Cross-Linking (CXL) – a procedure using special eye drops and UV light to stiffen the cornea; in most people it stops the cornea bulging further, but it does not undo changes that have already happened
  4. Corneal ring implants – small curved inserts placed in the cornea to flatten its shape
  5. Corneal Transplant (Keratoplasty) – for severe, late-stage cases where the cornea becomes too thin or scarred

Call 91686 90442 (eye department) or 9158681123 (main hospital line) to book a check-up.

Website – www.chetnahospital.co.in

Address – Chetna Hospital, Sambhajinagar, MIDC, G Block, Near Rotary Club, Chinchwad 411019

General health information, not a diagnosis. Reviewed and updated by Chetna Hospital’s content team with the help of AI writing tools, November 2026.