Keratoconus (Conical Cornea)
Keratoconus is an eye disease that concerns the cornea. The cornea is a thin, clear tissue covering the surface of the front of the eye.

Most of the time, there is no eye injury or disease that provokes keratoconus. If you develop keratoconus, you were probably bound to develop it from birth. Keratoconus is most prevalent in those who are near-sighted.

Causes
The cause of keratoconus is unknown. Some research shows that keratoconus may run in families and may affect those with allergies more often. Other research suggests too much eye rubbing can cause keratoconus. Although it is not proven that eye rubbing can exacerbate keratoconus, it is probably a good idea to keep from rubbing the front of your eye too much anyway, as it is a delicate part of the body.

There are no preventative measures for keratoconus, but if you develop it, there are many treatment options available.

Onset and Treatment
Keratoconus usually develops early, in the teenage years and twenties, but it can begin even earlier, during childhood.

It will most likely present in a patient before age 30. Keratoconus can progress for 10-20 years and then slow down considerably as you age.

If this happens, you may need to undergo a corneal transplant. Recovery from this surgery can take a long time, but the risk of the body rejecting a transplanted cornea is very low. Most often, patients will still need to wear contact lenses after the surgery.



Prevention
Although there are no specific ways to prevent keratoconus, some basic lifestyle choices can help keep your eyes healthy.

• Regular eye examinations are a must. It is during these exams that your health care provider has a chance to detect any conditions like keratoconus before they become a bigger problem. Once a year check-ups are instrumental in maintaining health vision over your lifetime.

• Wearing sunglasses to protect your eyes is an easy way to guard your vision against UV damage.

• A healthy lifestyle keeps your blood pressure, cholesterol and blood sugar in balance. Suggestions include no smoking, limited eye rubbing, limited alcohol consumption and lots of leafy, green vegetables high in antioxidants.

There are a few different options to prevent the need for a corneal transplant with the newest being corneal cross-linking. Corneal cross-linking is a method where custom riboflavin eye drops are activated by ultra-violet light over a 30-minute session, meant to increase collagen cross-linking in the cornea and thereby strengthen it.