Risk Factors for Keratoconus


Keratoconus is a condition in which the cornea – the layer covering the pupil and the iris – become very thin and changes in shape. Normally, the cornea is shaped like a dome but changes slowly into more of a cone shape. The change alters the way light comes into the eye and that means your vision is going to be distorted. The condition begins when you are in your late teens or early twenties but becomes worse over the next one to two decades. Thankfully, treatments are available for the condition but you first need to understand what factors may put you at risk for developing keratoconus and how the condition can be diagnosed.

There are a number of factors that might increase your chances of developing keratoconus. If you have any of these factors in your life, you should make sure to have your eyes examined regularly to make sure the condition is diagnosed as quickly as possible. Here are the three biggest factors you should be concerned about:

  • Long term wearing of hard contact lenses – Hard contact lenses which are not well-fitted can lead to problems and cause an injury to the eye which ends up causing the distortion of the cornea.
  • Genetics – If anyone else in your family has suffered from Keratoconus, particularly siblings and parents, you are at a greater risk of developing the condition. However, the majority of people who do develop this condition have no known family history of this condition.
  • Inherited diseases – A number of different inherited diseases, including Down’s syndrome, can also put you at higher risk for this eye condition.

While these are the three main risk factors, others also exist such as high exposure to ultraviolet light and frequent cases of eye irritation.

<<<previous page
next page>>>


Laser Eye Surgery Enquiry Form

Complete this form if you would like information about laser eye surgery including costs & suitablity.