What is Keratoconus?
Keratoconus is a serious eye condition that causes the cornea to become thin and progressively weaker. Over time, the cornea, the clear front part of the eye, bulges outward into a cone-like shape. As the disorder progresses, the ability to see clearly and comfortably diminishes.
What Causes Keratonocus?
The exact cause of keratoconus is still unclear, but it can run in families. Symptoms usually appear as early as puberty or in the late teen years. They tend to worsen for 20 years or so, before stabilizing.
Symptoms include increasingly blurry vision and sensitivity to light and glare. Over time, as the cornea begins to bulge, it becomes increasingly difficult to wear standard contact lenses. Eventually, regular lenses don’t fit or stay in place, and eyeglasses can’t provide optimal vision.
That’s where scleral contact lenses come in.
How Do Scleral Lenses Work?
Scleral lenses vault over the misshapen cornea and rest on the sclera, the white part of the eye. The larger surface area makes the lenses more stable, providing comfort and sharp vision.
Even better, scleral lenses hold a reservoir of saline solution between the lens and the uneven cornea. This provides a liquid environment that hydrates even the driest eyes.
The Benefits of Scleral Lenses
In addition to protecting the sensitive cornea, scleral lenses provide improved vision, clarity, and color detail. According to scientific studies, wearing scleral lenses can often reduce the risk of needing eye surgery to treat keratoconus.
Consult With Your Eye Doctor in Layton
If you wish to learn more or acquire scleral lenses, book your appointment with Optical Illusions today.
Our practice serves patients from Layton, Syracuse, Clearfield, and Kaysville, Utah and surrounding communities.