New Vitamin Treatment Avoids Corneal Transplants By Robert L.
Epstein, MD Keratoconus is a condition that can cause severe
visual loss. The condition, which occurs in about one out of
every 2000 people, progresses slowly, can start in childhood or
begin as late as age 65. The clear front wall of the eye, called
the cornea, is the most important part of the eye concerned with
focusing images of light. In keratoconus, the cornea becomes
structurally weak and misshapen and that causes poor focusing of
images and blurry vision. People do not know right away that
they have keratoconus. Most people just need changes in glasses.
Typically that change is an increase in the astigmatism or
cylinder correction in the eyeglass prescription. Increases in
astigmatism are uncommon in healthy eyes. That type of change of
eyeglass prescription is different the more common change to
higher spherical correction without astigmatism. Early
keratoconus can be detected with special diagnostic instruments
in the office of the ophtha