“What causes keratoconus?”

No known causes except, eye rubbing, inflammation, genetics, or possible collagen disorders. As the cornea bulges, the result can be high or irregular astigmatism; it is not the cause.

Keratoconus is a progressive disease of the cornea. The cornea is a clear structure on the front surface of your eye which provides a smooth surface for light to enter the eye. In patients with Keratoconus the cornea starts to bulge forward into a cone like shape, causing the surface to become irregular, and thus leading to a decrease in vision. Keratoconus can be hereditary, or spontaneous (meaning no one in the family has it). It can often be associated with severe eye rubbing especially in patients with atopic or vernal keratoconjunctivitis. Furthermore, keratoconus can be found in combination with inherited retinal diseases such as Retinitis pigmentosa or certain collagen disorders such as Marfans syndrome or Ehlers Danlos syndrome (to name a few). People who have Keratoconus also tend to have large amounts of astigmatism, and may frequently change their glasses prescription. Keratoconus in mild cases can be treated with glasses or soft contact lenses, however, in moderate to severe cases, hard contact lenses are best.

Keratoconus is an eye disease in which the clear tissue of the front of the eye (cornea) thins and bulges outward in the shape of a curvy cone. Keratoconus typically begins in puberty or the late teens and progresses into the mid to late 30's. The exact cause of keratoconus is unknown. One in ten people with keratoconus have a family history of keratoconus. Frequent rubbing of the eyes can exasperate the condition. The condition causes blurry vision which can be treated initially with glasses and special contact lenses. As the disease progresses then the vision will continue to deteriorate until contact lenses are the only option in order to see. Corneal cross linking is a procedure that can help strengthen the cornea to help slow progression.
I recommend that your husband seeks a person that specializes and treats keratoconus because not all eye doctors specialize in this condition.

Symptoms first appear during puberty or the late teens and include blurred vision and sensitivity to light and glare.
Vision can be corrected with glasses or contact lenses early on. Advanced cases may require a cornea transplant.

There is definitely a genetic component

Keratoconus is a corneal dystrophy which occurs most often in young men. It causes an irregular astigmatism which can be tested with contact lenses when it worsens. It needs to be evaluated often because it is progressive.

Keratoconus is a degenerative thinning of the cornea, frequently associated with eye rubbing. There is some genetic component as well. Changes in prescription and frequent increases/shifts in astigmatism occur. Chances are, if your husband was recently diagnosed, he is not likely to develop severe stages. Most commonly, the condition is found in teenage years due to significant prescription shifts and decreased vision. Most commonly, the condition is managed with glasses and contact lenses. Corneal crosslinking is another commonly used to stabilize the cornea. The best thing is to get eye exams yearly or sooner when a vision change is noticed. This is a medical condition, so your medical insurance should be used for the exams.

It runs in families. Thinking of the cornea. Call a corneal specialist to do a collagen interlace treatment to stop the progression of the condition. Must use RGP lenses for better vision.

Dr. Hakki

Keratoconus is a hereditary condition. It usually occur in young males in their late 20's. Keratoconus is like having a "cone shaped" cornea instead of a "doom shape" cornea and that is why he has high astigmatism. Current treatments are available in the US, with corneal cross linking. This procedure used Riboflavin and UV light to harden the corneal, therefore strengthen it and reduce astigmatism. This treatment is not corrective, but used to reduce the amount of astigmatism and prevents corneal ruptures.

Vinnie Tieu, O.D.

Keratoconus means cone-shaped cornea. It is a condition that involves genetics, and mostly guys are affected at puberty. A lot of times, constant rubbing of the eyes aggravates the condition. Treatment includes glasses, hard contact lenses, and cross linking surgery.