This cornea disorder involves progressive thinning of the cornea. It is one of the most common hereditary conditions affecting the cornea and a fairly common reason for cornea transplantation in Singapore.
It often occurs in teenagers and adults in their 20s. Keratoconus arises when the middle of the cornea thins away and gradually bulges outward, protruding with a conical shape. This irregular curvature of the cornea affects the cornea's refractive power, producing moderate to severe distortion (astigmatism) and blurring of vision. Keratoconus may also cause sudden swelling of the cornea cause scarring of the cornea tissue which can also block vision.
Improvement of vision is usually first achieved with spectacles, then rigid contact lenses, and finally a cornea transplantation where both the above options fail due to the severity of the disease. |
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