Keratoconus

[Teenager101]

This is my second time posting a topic. First off, I am allergenic and for the past few years have been rubbing my eyes constantly due to allergies most likely. I noticed that my vision has gotten worse and think this may be due to me rubbing my eyes. My symptoms (ghosting with only one eye opened, halos, and glare especially at night) exactly match up with symptoms of the disease Keratoconus. Should i visit an optometrist or anopthamologist about this? My age is 16, ive told my parents about my worsening vision but they just told me that i was fine so thats what led me to this site to see if i could do something about this. Sorry for the long post.

[John C Hagan III, MD, FACS]

Itching is a consistent sign of eye allergy. If you live in the USA,  Zaditor is an excellent over the counter drop for allergy. Rubbing your eyes will not cause keratoconus. Ther are other things that can cause ghosting besides K-conus.  

See an ophthalmologist (Eye MD) a simple test called a corneal topography can rule in or rule out K-conus.

JCH III MD Ophthalmologist

[tiffany83]

I've had keratoconus since I was 8...I grew up in a low income family so Medicaid took care of the expenses. Once I went off to college, I wore them off and on because I'd have them for a good 3-4 years before I broke one. I'd have to wait to save money to purchase them because I didn't have eye insurance. The thing is, I've consistently worn the RGP lens in my left eye because it's the stronger of the two. However, the right eye hurts like all hell when I wear the lens. It has also caused the eye to go lazy and I've never suffered from Amblyopia. After a few years, I recently started wearing it again because I want to avoid having to have a corneal transplant if I can. However, again it's causing the eye to go lazy and the shape of my right eye is starting to differ from my left...Is this normal?

[John C Hagan III, MD, FACS]

Stop wearing any contact that is painful. See a corneal Eye MD. There is a new treatment for k conus called corneal cross linking that may benefit you.
JCH MD