I have pointed eyes!!!
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First, what is a Keratoconus?
It is a condition where the outer surface of the eye, the cornea, has an unusually steep curvature. It is always accompanied by a large amount of astigmatism. |
To aid our understanding of astigmatism, let's compare it to a flat tire.
A flat tire is round on the top and flat on the bottom. Just like the flat tire, the shape of your eye is the same. It is round on the top and flat on the bottom. To make you see better we leave the top round part alone and round out the bottom. Then you can roll along down the street! However, your eye does not park on the curb. Thus, the flat part can be in any direction, not only the bottom.
A large amount of astigmatism is the main way we discover the presence of keratoconus. Most people’s astigmatism is more like a slow leak, but the astigmatism of keratoconus is an absolute flat to the rim. The end result is your eye has a lot of distortion and if the steepening continues in extreme cases the eye could perforate.
A flat tire is round on the top and flat on the bottom. Just like the flat tire, the shape of your eye is the same. It is round on the top and flat on the bottom. To make you see better we leave the top round part alone and round out the bottom. Then you can roll along down the street! However, your eye does not park on the curb. Thus, the flat part can be in any direction, not only the bottom.
A large amount of astigmatism is the main way we discover the presence of keratoconus. Most people’s astigmatism is more like a slow leak, but the astigmatism of keratoconus is an absolute flat to the rim. The end result is your eye has a lot of distortion and if the steepening continues in extreme cases the eye could perforate.
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How is keratoconus treated?
Treatment in the past was limited to holding back the steepening with a firm contact lens. A combination of soft and firm contact was developed also. In extreme cases, a corneal transplant is necessary when perforation is threatening. |
Now Corneal Collagen Cross-Linking is a new treatment
Corneal collagen cross-linking is a technique that uses UV light and riboflavin (a vitamin-like substance) to strengthen your eye’s outer surface so your tire won’t be so flat It’s basically super glue for your corneal tissues. The goal of the treatment is to halt progressive and irregular changes in corneal shape.
First careful measurements are taken of the curvature of your eye. Once determined you are ready for the two-step treatment.
The first stage of therapy is to allow riboflavin to blend into the cornea. The outer surface is softened up while under an anesthetic. Then riboflavin is added for about 15 to 30 minutes.
The second step uses ultraviolet light to harden the surface for 30 minutes. Antibiotic drops are given 3-4 times daily for a short period to avoid any infection.
Corneal collagen cross-linking is a technique that uses UV light and riboflavin (a vitamin-like substance) to strengthen your eye’s outer surface so your tire won’t be so flat It’s basically super glue for your corneal tissues. The goal of the treatment is to halt progressive and irregular changes in corneal shape.
First careful measurements are taken of the curvature of your eye. Once determined you are ready for the two-step treatment.
The first stage of therapy is to allow riboflavin to blend into the cornea. The outer surface is softened up while under an anesthetic. Then riboflavin is added for about 15 to 30 minutes.
The second step uses ultraviolet light to harden the surface for 30 minutes. Antibiotic drops are given 3-4 times daily for a short period to avoid any infection.