Know About Keratoconus: Symptoms, Causes & Treatment

What is Keratoconus

Keratoconus is a dynamic condition characterized by diminishing the cornea that causes it to lose its symmetrical arch shape. It causes the cornea (the clear surface on the front of the eye) to lean continuously and bulge into a cone shape. The cone-formed cornea further leads to nearsightedness( myopia) and astigmatism. It results in blurry and distorted vision.

Table Of Content

1. Cause Of Keratoconus 
2. Keratoconus Symptoms
3. Stages of Keratoconus
4. Diagnosing Keratoconus
5. Keratoconus Treatment
6. Takeaway

Causes of Keratoconus

No predisposing factor is yet known for causing Keratoconus. It is believed that both hereditary and environmental factors contribute to its development. Some of the causative agents can be:

• Family History: It is believed that some individuals with Keratoconus may have genes that predispose them to develop the condition if specific environmental conditions are present.
• Underlying illnesses: There may be a direct cause and effect relationship between certain underlying illnesses and Keratoconus, although this has not been proven. These conditions include Leber congenital amaurosis, Marfan syndrome, sleep apnea, asthma, and a few connective tissue diseases such as brittle cornea syndrome and Down syndrome.

• Environment-related Factors: Wearing contact lenses, excessive eye rubbing, and Chronic eye inflammation caused by asthma, allergies, etc., are some of the environmental risk factors that might lead to the development of Keratoconus.

Keratoconus Symptoms

Keratoconus Signs and symptoms are not exhibited early. The absence of symptoms in the early stages is normal for people suffering with keratoconus. As the problem worsens, your cornea’s asymmetry may cause mild to severe vision distortion and loss of vision. 

Some of the common visible signs of keratoconus symptoms include

• Hazy, misaligned, or deteriorating vision 
• Heightened sensitivity to brightness and light
• Driving issues at night, including haloes or streaks around bright lights
• Frequently changing prescription for glasses 
• Monocular diplopia, or double vision in both eyes
• Headaches or itchy eyes
• Short-sightedness (myopia)
• Wounds on the cornea
• The corneal tissue thinning

Stages of Keratoconus

Keratoconus has different stages based on the worsening health of the eye. The three essential stages of Keratoconus are:

• Early/Mild: Keratoconus might not exhibit any symptoms in the early stages. Glasses or contact lenses may be recommended for astigmatism and short-sightedness.
• Moderate: At this point, your cornea’s shape and possible corneal thinning changes are visible. Cross-linking was frequently used to stop the progression of Keratoconus. It may be used with laser treatment to enhance vision and lessen or regularise astigmatism. Your scans and the condition of your eyes determine whether you are a candidate for keratoconus treatment.

Advanced: At this most advanced stage, You’ll probably have significant corneal scarring and thinning. Cross-linking development can help to treat Keratoconus using corneal ring segments and corneal transplants. 

Diagnosing Keratoconus

As early stages of keratoconus condition have no symptoms, we frequently diagnose Keratoconus during an evaluation for laser vision correction. We will screen for Keratoconus if you have a diagnosis of astigmatism that is quickly changing. An eye specialist might evaluate your eyes and symptoms during your consultation. They might also discuss risk factors, including rubbing your eyes and Keratoconus in the family.

Using AI-powered technology, Corneal topography scans offer a complete examination of your cornea’s structure, which is the most accurate way to diagnose Keratoconus.

Keratoconus Treatment

The various options are available for the keratoconus treatment based on the Detroit conditions. Some of the commonly used line of Keratoconus treatment are: 

• Glass or soft lens: The early stages of Keratoconus can be improved with glasses or soft contact lenses. As the condition worsens, special hard contacts (rigid gas permeable contacts) may be needed. 
• Corneal Transplant: When glasses or contact lenses can no longer enhance eyesight due to advanced Keratoconus, Keratoconus Eye surgery is recommended. A corneal transplant is a type of Keratoconus Surgery. During a corneal transplant, the damaged portion of the cornea is removed and replaced with a healthy donor cornea.
• Cross-Linking: A more recent therapy that slows or stops keratoconus progression is collagen cross-linking. To strengthen the collagen fibers in the cornea, riboflavin (vitamin B12) drops and UV radiation is applied to the cornea. Cross-linking doesn’t cure keratoconus-related vision loss, but it prevents further loss.
• Keratoconus Laser treatment: Laser surgery is a solution when treating fruste and advanced Keratoconus. If the keratoconus apex has scars or nodules, keratoconus laser treatment is advised. In this situation, a keratoconus laser can be beneficial since it can flatten and regularise the CONUS. It enhances vision and ensures a greater contact lens tolerance.
• Keratoconus Eye Surgery: Due to pain, significant corneal thinning, or scarring, some keratoconus patients have trouble wearing contact lenses. If glasses cannot correct your vision,  Keratoconus eye surgery may be suggested. Keratoplasty and Intracorneal ring segments are two commonly available surgeries.

Takeaway

As Keratoconus progresses, it may cause corneal thinning, scarring, and a severe loss of vision. You have the highest chance of reducing long-term impairments to your eyesight by getting a proper diagnosis and treatment for Keratoconus as soon as possible. 

If you are exhibiting keratoconus symptoms, contact us. Using AI-powered technologies, our knowledgeable specialists identify Keratoconus. To schedule a keratoconus assessment and testing, contact one of our experts and schedule a consultation. We provide a well-defined opinion service to relieve your mind if you are concerned that another eye doctor might have overlooked your keratoconus symptoms.

If you are considering LASIK eye surgery to get rid of your glasses or contact lenses, it is a great step. But are you anxious and doubtful, regarding ‘is LASIK surgery painful?’ It’s very natural to have these doubts because we all know how sensitive our eyes are and ‘surgery in the eyes’, itself sounds fearful. But the good news is that LASIK (Laser-Assisted In-Situ Keratomileusis) eye surgery is totally painless and you will be awake all through the procedure. It is one of the best-known, quick, safe, and most commonly performed eye surgery for correcting vision. If you ask anyone who has actually had this surgery ‘does eye surgery hurt?’, almost 100 % will say ‘NO’ to this.

Let us know through this article, some details about how this LASIK eye surgery works and does LASIK eye surgery hurt?

Table of Contents:

1. How does LASIK work?
2. Why Does LASIK Eye Surgery Seems Painful?
3. Does LASIK Eye Surgery Really hurt?
4.   FAQs

Takeaway

1. How does LASIK work?

LASIK eye surgery is a minimally invasive procedure that provides you with better vision without glasses or contact lenses. LASIK works by reshaping your cornea (The clear front surface of the eye which allows light to enter the eye and contributes most of the eye focusing power), thus correcting the eye focusing ability and hence improving your vision.

For normal eyes, the light rays entering the eye are focused in such a way that images are formed on the retina and you can see clearly. But with various vision problems described below vision becomes quite difficult.

• Near-sightedness(Myopia): Distant vision is not clear because the cornea curves too sharply and the images are formed in front of the retina. The LASIK flattens the cornea, thus improving its focusing power and images start forming on the retina.
• Farsightedness (Hyperopia): Near vision is poor because the cornea is very flat and the images are formed behind the retina. With the help of LASIK surgery, the cornea is curved and made steeper, thus correcting the vision.
• Astigmatism: Where the cornea is uneven and both distant and near vision is disrupted. LASIK surgery smoothens the cornea and improves vision.

Before the surgery:

• Your ophthalmologist will numb your eyes with a numbing solution so that you do not feel any pain or discomfort. This will clarify your doubt about ‘Does LASIK hurt?’
• An instrument will help your eyes be wide open and a suction ring is placed before cutting the corneal flap. This might make you feel some pressure in your eyes.
• Your eye surgeon will use a cutting laser to cut a small flap away from the front of your eye. This flap is folded back to allow them to access your cornea.
• Then, using a controlled laser, your ophthalmologist will reshape your cornea according to your need.
•  After reshaping, the surgeon will put the flap back in its place which heals without stitches.
• The entire procedure takes around 20 minutes with actual surgery time which is not more than 5- 10 minutes.

2.   Why Does LASIK Eye Surgery Seems Painful?

One of the most common fears of LASIK surgery is the thought of a ‘laser’ coming in contact with our eyes, which is the most delicate and sensitive organ of our body. Getting the surgery done on the eyes itself seems very frightening. When we understand the entire process of the LASIK surgery and come to know that a cut will be made, the flap will be cut, the corneal shape will be modified with some instrument. It seems dreadful and you may be anxious and have a question in mind that ‘Is laser surgery painful’? Also, in the past when technology was not much advanced, this surgery might be causing some pain and discomfort, which people relate to even now. But the fact is, that with so much technological advancement and most modern techniques and equipment, LASIK surgery has become very quick and completely painless. Therefore, be very clear about it, and never have doubts like ‘Does Photorefractive keratectomy (PRK) hurt?’

3.     Does LASIK Eye Surgery Really hurt?

LASIK surgery does not hurt or cause any pain, during or immediately after the procedure, as medications and numbing solutions are given prior to the surgery to alleviate any discomfort during the surgery. Only some pressure might be felt during the procedure.

Many times eye surgeons also prescribe medications to relax, in case you feel too anxious. After the laser reshapes the cornea, the flap is replaced and this serves as a natural bandage to facilitate healing. Now, you may be wondering ‘Does LASIK hurt after surgery?’

After the LASIK surgery, there may be a few after-effects like:

• Mild discomfort.
• Itching.
• Mild pain.
• Watery eyes etc.
• Dry eyes.
• Blurry vision.
• Haziness

All these usually occur after several hours of surgery, but these are temporary, and usually resolve within a few days.  You must be very regular with the medications and eye drops that your surgeon prescribes, so as to avoid any infection and speed up healing. Therefore, you need not even think of ‘Does eye laser treatment hurt?’

In very rare instances, if you experience severe pain, redness, swelling, or any kind of unusual signs and symptoms, immediately contact your eye surgeon.

4. FAQs

1.     What are the aftercare tips to follow after LASIK eye surgery?

• Try to keep your eyes closed and rest for some hours immediately after the surgery.
• Wear a protective eye shield while sleeping at least for the first 5 nights to avoid accidental injury and irritation to your eyes.
• Avoid going into bright sunlight and dusty places and always wear sunglasses to protect your eyes.
• Avoid eye makeup for a few days.
• Apply your eye drops and take medications very regularly as prescribed by your eye surgeon.
• Keep your follow-up appointments very regular, even if you are feeling perfect.

2.     Is LASIK surgery completely safe?

The success rate of LASIK eye surgery is more than 90% and mostly people get perfect vision, 8 out of 10 do not need glasses or contact lenses after the procedure. Minor temporary side effects may be there which go off gradually and can be managed with medications. Only 10% may have risks like:

• Recession.
• Prolonged dry eyes.
• Under correction.

These might need the use of lubricating eye drops for a prolonged-time period or another surgery for proper correction. Your eye surgeon will guide you on this. Less than 1% may have very serious side effects like vision loss.

 Takeaway

Dr. Deepa Gupta is considered one of the best eye specialists in Gurgaon due to her excellent clinical skills and proficiency in her work. At Dr. Deepa’s clinic, you are assured to receive customized solutions for all your eye problems in the most comfortable and safe environment. The use of the latest and modern technology and equipment further facilitates outstanding results and minimum side effects. So, why wait, consult Dr. Deepa Gupta, and say goodbye to all your eye issues.

Vision problems, weak eyesight, hazy vision, and trouble seeing movements or obstacles are troublesome and can make daily chores a struggle. A majority of people across the world experience such troubles at some point in time. Wearing spectacles and contact lenses make affordable and common aids to correct vision, but they can be uncomfortable to wear. Thus, many people undergo LASIK eye surgery to get rid of bulky spectacles. However, one common question that strikes the mind of patients planning to undergo LASIK surgery is- how long does it last? We have gone a whole nine yards to find the answer to this question for all those planning to undergo a LASIK treatment. Before we uncover the answer to this question, let’s get some understanding of the procedure. 

Table of contents-

• Overview
• What is LASIK, and how does it work?
• What to expect after a LASIK surgery?
• How long does LASIK take?
• How long does LASIK last?
• Takeaway
• FAQs

What is LASIK, and how does it work?

LASIK is a surgical procedure in which an eye surgeon works to reshape the cornea in the eye using laser technology. A change in the curvature of the cornea helps promote clear vision and remove discomfort. 

LASIK is a small surgical procedure and usually takes a few minutes to complete. During the procedure, the patient is made to lie on a reclining chair, and a numbing eye drop is put into the eye. An eye surgeon will use a clip to keep your eyelids apart and place a suction ring on the eye. Thereafter, your surgeon will create a hinged flap from the front of the eye to get access to the part of the retina that needs to be reshaped. A programmed laser machine here helps reshape the retina of your eye to improve vision. Once the corneal reshaping is done, the flap is placed back in its original position and sealed with a medicated liquid. It gets attached to the cornea itself without stitches. 

What to expect after a LASIK surgery?

Since LASIK is an invasive surgery, you may feel irritation, pain, or discomfort soon after the procedure. You may have watery eyes and would even want to rub your eyes. Don’t! Rubbing your eyes to relieve irritation and discomfort can displace the hinged flap creating the need for further treatment. Also, you may experience blurry vision and experience sensitivity to light. These symptoms are generally mild, and your surgeon can prescribe you some pain relievers and antibiotics to lower discomfort and prevent infections. It’s best to take an off from work for the initial few days until these symptoms subside. Also, consult your doctor if these symptoms persist for longer or cause discomfort. 

How long does LASIK take?

LASIK is a surgical procedure, and there may be some complexities involved. Besides, each patient is unique. Thus the time required for LASIK may vary for each patient depending on several factors. Generally, it may take 7 minutes to 10 minutes for the procedure to get complete. However, some steps involved in the preparation may take an extra couple of minutes apart from the actual time required for the surgery. 

How long does LASIK last?

When it comes to LASIK, one of the commonly asked questions is whether the results are permanent, or for how long do they last? Well, there are both short-term and long-term benefits associated with the surgery. By saying short-term, we refer to the improvement in the vision patients experience after 4 to 5 hours of the surgery. After taking precautions and proper rest for two or three days, you can resume your daily activities with a new and improved vision.  Considering the long-term benefits, LASIK can help you maintain a clear vision for 10, 20, or more years, depending on your health. In short, LASIK promotes permanent results; however, you may feel a little haziness in your vision over the years due to age and macular degeneration. 

Takeaway-

Hazy vision is not only discomforting but can take a toll on daily life, as with weak or improper vision, doing everyday chores can be a struggle. Also, most spectacle wearers want to take out the burden over their nose bridge, and in such cases, LASIK allows them to enjoy clear vision without carrying bulky glasses over their faces. LASIK provides permanent results and makes an excellent treatment option for those having vision problems. However, you must ensure to get it done by an expert surgeon. After all, it is a matter of your delicate eyes. Dr. Deepa Gupta is one of the best eye surgeons in Gurgaon and holds the expertise of over 13 years in the field of ophthalmology. 

FAQs-

In how much time after the LASIK can I see clearly?

You are advised to avoid putting strain on your eyes soon after the procedure. However, you will be able to feel the difference and clarity in your vision after 4-5 hours of the procedure. 

Does LASIK wear off after 10 years?

It’s a widespread myth that LASIK wears off after 10 years. Rather, it renders permanent results which may even last a lifetime. However, it’s normal to experience a slight blurriness in your vision over the years as you age.