What is Keratoconus?
Keratoconus is a progressive eye disease. With keratoconus, the cornea thins and begins to bulge. Over time, the natural shape of the cornea becomes more and more distorted, causing vision-related symptoms such as halos and glare, flares, smears, streaking, multiple images, overlapping images, and starbursts.
How Does Keratoconus Impact Daily Life?
As you can imagine, vision problems like those mentioned above can have a serious impact on a patient’s quality of life. As the disease progresses, and higher order aberrations (visual static) develop, increased visual distortions can interfere with daily activities including watching television, reading small print, driving, and even recognizing faces. Bright environments may also present challenges if a patient is affected by glare. It follows that school and job prospects can both be negatively affected by keratoconus. On top of it all, these practical implications can lead to emotional distress, depression, anxiety, or a general feeling of missing out.
But there is good news. At the CLEI Center for Keratoconus, we are dedicated to improving not only our patients’ vision, but also their quality of life. In this article, we’ll cover the practical steps you can take to effectively manage your keratoconus symptoms and enjoy life to the fullest.
Life with Keratoconus: How to Manage
Learn Everything You Can
It’s perfectly normal to feel some fear and anxiety when you are diagnosed with keratoconus. But don’t let fear of the unknown get the best of you. Instead, take control by learning everything you can about the condition. Knowledge is power, and when you understand keratoconus causes, symptoms, and treatment options, it will be easier to accept the condition and adapt accordingly.
Where can you find trustworthy, up-to-date information about keratoconus? The CLEI Center for Keratoconus, CLEI’s Blog, and the National Keratoconus Foundation are all excellent sources to turn to.
Seek Out A Qualified Medical Team
Not all eye doctors have experience treating keratoconus. For this reason, seeking out an eye doctor who specializes in the condition is critical if you want to achieve the best possible visual outcomes and quality of life.
The CLEI Center for Keratoconus is recognized globally as the leader in keratoconus treatment. The first of its kind in the U.S., our expert team has vast experience in all aspects of keratoconus care. From diagnostics and crosslinking to corneal curvature surgery and specialty contact lenses, we offer the absolute best in comprehensive care to our patients. For good reason, many of our patients travel from across the country and even from overseas to seek out care here. We would be happy to explore treatment options with you, and we encourage you to schedule a keratoconus consultation with us today.
Take Care of Your Mental and Emotional Health
Realistically, even if you have a solid treatment plan in place, living with a chronic health condition can be stressful. It’s important to give priority to your mental and emotional wellbeing. Each individual must decide how to do this, but some patients have found the following tips helpful:
- Seek out support from friends and family. Opening up to a trusted friend who knows how to listen from time to time can be incredibly helpful, especially if you are beginning to feel overwhelmed.
- Another option is to join a live community like a keratoconus support group. If you prefer something not in person, there are support groups through online forums such as Reddit and Facebook.
- Practice stress relieving activities, such as meditation, yoga, listening to music, or taking a daily walk outside.
- Maintain a healthy routine. Eating a healthy diet and exercising regularly will contribute to your overall emotional wellbeing and make it easier to cope with stress.
- Consider therapy or counseling. If you are still struggling, don’t be afraid to get further help. Therapy and counseling have helped thousands of people just like you to keep a positive outlook while coping with chronic illness.
Utilize All Available Resources
Resources like the National Keratoconus Foundation, mentioned earlier, can be highly beneficial. NKCF is a nonprofit organization that provides information and support to individuals living with keratoconus. Take advantage of the resources they offer, including their helpline, online support groups, and educational materials on the condition. If you feel inclined to do so, connect with others who are going through similar experiences.
Conclusion
Although keratoconus does not currently have a cure, it is a manageable condition. Do your research, seek out treatment at CLEI’s Center for Keratoconus, take care of your mental and emotional health along the way, and utilize all the resources available to you. By doing so, you can manage your condition and still live your very best life.
Book a keratoconus consultation at the CLEI Center for Keratoconus today.
