Bulging Eyeballs Could Be a Sign of the Disease Keratoconus
Bulging eyeballs are often used for comic or horror effect on television and in movies. But in real life, bulging eyes can be a sign of a disease called keratoconus, and there is nothing funny about it, as anyone who suffers from this condition can tell you. Read on for more information on the effects, treatment and definition of this eye-related disease now.
What Is Keratoconus?
Keratoconus is a condition where your corneas become too weak to hold in your eyes, which results in the cornea being distended into a cone shape rather than its normal round shape. This in turn creates the appearance of the eyes bulging.
What Are the Effects of Keratoconus?
Naturally, the shape of your cornea is very important to your eyesight. If it is distorted, your vision will be as well. When you have keratoconus, all the images you see are distorted, whether you are looking up close, far away, or from any distance, for that matter.
Keratoconus is a progressive disease that often starts with slightly blurred/distorted vision, glare, and light sensitivity in the teens or early 20s. Over the years, it can progress to double vision, light halos, bad night vision, and seeing multiple images. In severe cases, the cornea may even crack and leave a scar, which can have serious consequences for your vision.
Who Gets Keratoconus?
Keratoconus is often inherited, so if you have a family history of the disease, then you may be at risk. It happens when protective antioxidants in the cornea decrease, resulting in damaging by-products being released from the corneal cells.
These by-products weaken the collagen that holds the cornea in place, like ropes holding up a wall becoming frayed. While the genetic component is the major indicator, chronic eye rubbing may initiate or exacerbate the condition.
What Is the Treatment for Keratoconus?
Sadly, historically there has been little that modern medicine can do to treat keratoconus. Patients who suffer from this disease can improve their vision with corrective lenses, just as those who suffer from other vision problems do.
However, as the disease progresses over time, corrective lenses may become less and less effective. For many, the progression of keratoconus does stop eventually, but if the disease becomes so severe that effective blindness results, a corneal transplant has long been the only remedy.
New Treatments May Prove Helpful for Keratoconus Sufferers
However, the good news for keratoconus sufferers is that a new treatment has recently become available. This treatment is called corneal cross-linking, and it involves strengthening the collagen fibers that hold the cornea in place with ultraviolet A light and special eye drops. While only approved since 2016, it has shown promising results as an alternative to corneal transplant.
Another alternative is a prosthetic called intacs. These are small plastic arcs that the doctor inserts into the cornea in order to reshape it. When combined with glasses or contacts, intacs often result in dramatically improved vision for keratoconus sufferers.
The Importance of Getting Regular Eye Exams
It’s impossible to overstate the importance of getting regular eye exams in treating keratoconus. First, the sooner it is diagnosed, the sooner a doctor can find the right corrective lenses to improve your sight as soon as possible. Second, the doctor may discover that your vision issues are a result of a different, more treatable disease. When treating eye diseases, the sooner the better with respect to positive outcomes.
If you are in or around the Portland area, make an appointment with Beaumont Vision right away for your next eye exam. Our expert eye care professionals can perform a full exam in a relaxed and welcoming atmosphere, allowing us to determine the exact condition of your eyes and prescribe the best treatment to maximize your eye health and vision. To schedule your appointment, call 503-331-3937 now.