keratoconus
KERATOCONUS
There are many rumours circulating about KERATOCONUS, its causes and treatment and many ophthalmologists are responsible for these rumours. Ultimately, the only persons who can really give a reliable account of keratoconus are medical scientists and not ophthalmologists.
This article is about the ultimate guide to keratoconus. After all, I have suffered with this condition all of my life and I would know more about it than anyone else.
THE ULTIMATE GUIDE TO KERATOCONUS
What do we know about keratoconus with any degree of certainty?
Keratoconus is an eye condition that causes the cornea of the eye to weaken and to bulge out into a conical shape.
Keratoconus occurs in 1 in every 2,000 of the population. So, it is a very rare eye condition.
Keratoconus symptoms usually begin in puberty or early teens with a decrease or blurring of vision.
THE SYMPTOMS OF KERATOCONUS
Rapid deterioration of vision in teens.
Irregular astigmatism.
Myopia.
Problems with glare.
Eye strain, pain and irritation (most likely caused by dry eye).
THE CAUSES OF KERATOCONUS
I recently saw a proposed new theory for the causes of keratoconus. It suggests that there is a link between keratoconus and dry eye.
"Keratoconus is caused by a weakening of collagen and a decrease in protective antioxidants in the cornea.
Collagen are tiny fibres of protein in the eye that are responsible for keeping the cornea in place.
Protective antioxidants are responsible for protecting the collagen fibres by expelling the damaging by-products that the cornea cells produce in the eye.
Therefore, if antioxidant levels are low, the collagen fibres weaken causing the cornea to bulge."
This new theory that has recently been proposed has some interesting possibilities.
I know that many medical scientists subscribe to the theory that keratoconus is caused by faulty genes and these medical scientists have gone to great lengths in order to describe the structure of these genes.
What the new theory is essentially saying is that keratoconus is caused by a faulty tear film and that keratoconus is ultimately caused by dry eye.
If the genetic theory is correct then how can we explain the fact that keratoconus commences in the early teens? If the genetic theory is correct then keratoconus should commence from birth.
A faulty tear film can however occur at any age and for those with a faulty tear film this is most likely to occur in the early teen years.
I can confirm that I have suffered from dry eye all of my life without ever being aware of it. So, in my case there is an obvious link between keratoconus and dry eye.
Unfortunately there are some glaringly obvious arguments against the new theory namely:
Most elderly people have dry eye and do not develop keratoconus, or do they and this is not reported?
The proposed new theory is only applicable to the endothelial layer of the cornea. The other layers of the cornea do not have living cells, but are composed entirely out of collagen fibre and the endothelial layer is not responsible for the strength of the cornea anyway.
The theory that keratoconus is caused by genetic defects has its flaws, but, in the end the proposed new theory breaks down as well.
It is highly unlikely that we will ever discover the true causes of keratoconus.
Keratoconus it seems shall remain as just another one of those inexplicable, mysterious diseases.
WHAT CAN BE DONE ABOUT KERATOCONUS?
Not much can really be done about keratoconus.
Mostly, all that you can do about it is to wear those thick glasses. I tried wearing contact lenses. I had to use those rigid contact lenses and though they gave me good vision, they were too uncomfortable for me to wear.
Try to avoid having a corneal transplant if at all possible. Otherwise you can still survive throughout life. Although you will never become an aircraft pilot.
The major problem that you will encounter is in old age when you will require a cataract operation.
Written by
the Eye Enigma
11 April 2023
https://sites.google.com/view/haigis