What are the effects of keratoconus?

Effects of Keratoconus on Vision

Keratoconus can have the following symptomatic consequences.

In mild forms of keratoconus, the eye defect can still be corrected well with glasses. Keratoconus is also regularly discovered by accident. Without any complaints that are normal for keratoconus, this person has always been able to function properly. Many people with keratoconus are never diagnosed.

In mild forms of keratoconus, visual performance may be good enough to function properly. It is possible that due to age or a different working or living environment you suddenly have complaints. This can cause the diagnosis to be made late. However, the keratoconus arose much earlier.

Keratoconus typically manifests in both eyes. Keratoconus is usually more severe in one eye than the other. It even happens that keratoconus occurs even in one eye. Wearing a contact lens on the eye with keratoconus is only necessary if this correction has an added value for vision. It is incorrectly said that a contact lens can stop the keratoconus. This is not true. The need for a contact lens does not have to mean that this lens must always be worn all day. The lens can be worn when needed. In the winter months and in the evening this need is often much greater.

Mild forms of keratoconus can usually also be corrected fairly well with glasses. The glasses can then be worn instead of contact lenses. With contact lenses you will often be able to see clearly. It is up to you to choose glasses or contact lenses, or a combination of both correction options.

In severe forms of keratoconus, it is very likely that you will be dependent on the correction of contact lenses. These can be scleral lenses, but there are also corneal lenses, soft keratoconus contact lenses and hybrid contact lenses. It is up to the contact lens specialist to fit the best lens for the right person.

Glasses in addition to contact lenses ensure that you can alternate contact lenses. This can be useful if you experience problems with your contact lenses. Sensitivity to hay fever is common in people with keratoconus. If you can remove your contact lenses in the evening, you give your eyes a rest and you will be able to tolerate the lenses better the next day. Sometimes your ophthalmologist will ask you to leave the contact lenses on for a few days in order to take a reliable measurement. It is also useful for this situation to have glasses.

People with keratoconus also sometimes benefit from this condition. For example, it regularly happens that reading glasses need to be used at a much later age than normal. Keratoconus can cause an optically similar effect to the optics of multifocal contact lenses!

All forms of keratoconus can increase the light sensitivity of the eyes. Would you like to know how much stray light nuisance your eyes have, or would you like to do something about it? Make an appointment at the Keratoconus Center in the Netherlands to have your scattered light values measured.

If you regularly suffer from your contact lenses and have not tried one of the lenses below before, make an appointment at the Keratoconus Center in the Netherlands. All types of contact lenses are adjusted in this center.
Have you been told that glasses wouldn’t help you? Then make an appointment at the Keratoconus Center in the Netherlands for a measurement. Maybe glasses are possible after all.