Keratoconus is a condition in which the cornea — the clear dome at the front of the eye — gradually thins and bulges outward into a cone shape. This distorts vision in ways that standard glasses often struggle to fully correct. It typically begins in the teens or twenties and can progress through early adulthood before stabilising.
Early detection is critical, because treatments are far more effective — and less invasive — when the condition is caught before it progresses significantly.
Signs and Symptoms
Keratoconus often begins with subtle changes that are easy to dismiss:
- Progressive blurring of vision that glasses only partially correct
- Increasing astigmatism, especially with frequent prescription changes
- Distorted vision — straight lines appear wavy or bent
- Glare and halos around lights, especially at night
- Eye rubbing — a known risk factor for progression
- Difficulty reading with glasses that previously worked well
If you are in your teens or twenties and find your glasses prescription keeps changing significantly each year, keratoconus should be considered and investigated.
How Is It Diagnosed?
During a comprehensive eye examination at Prime Optometrists Auburn, we assess the cornea using our keratometry and corneal topography equipment, which map the shape and curvature of the corneal surface in detail. These tests can detect early keratoconus that would be invisible on a standard prescription check.
Treatment and Management
- Spectacles — effective in early keratoconus when the cornea is still relatively regular
- Soft toric or rigid gas permeable contact lenses — as the cornea becomes more irregular, rigid lenses that vault over the cornea provide significantly better vision
- Scleral lenses — large diameter rigid lenses that rest on the white of the eye, providing excellent vision even in advanced keratoconus
- Corneal cross-linking (CXL) — a hospital-based procedure that uses UV light and riboflavin drops to strengthen the corneal collagen and halt progression. Highly effective and performed by ophthalmologists we work closely with
One of the most important things you can do if you have keratoconus is avoid rubbing your eyes. Eye rubbing is directly linked to disease progression.
If you have any concerns about your corneal health or your prescription keeps changing, book an appointment at Prime Optometrists Auburn today. We serve patients across Auburn, Lidcombe, Granville, Parramatta and Western Sydney.