Seeing double? Blurred vision could be caused by worrying condition
DOUBLE vision is one of the key symptoms of an eye condition - keratoconus - that causes the front of the eye to gradually change shape and become cone-line.
Eye condition: Keratoconus causes blurred vision
According to Moorfields Eye Hospital it’s a non-inflammatory eye condition where the cornea - the normally round dome-shaped clear window of the eye - changes over time.
It progressively thins, causing a cone-line bulge to develop.
The cause is unknown, but it’s thought it could be genetic.
Around one in every 1,000 people are affected, and it’s more common in people with allergic diseases such as asthma, Down's syndrome and Asian heritage.
Blurred vision: It's caused by the increasingly cone-like shape of the cornea
Vision can become blurry and distorted, and sufferers may find they sometimes see double.
The changes to the cornea cause loss of transparency which can result in the eye becoming unable to focus properly.
The Royal National Institute of Blind People state: “Keratoconus causes your cornea to develop an irregular, uneven shape.
“This affects how it focuses light onto your retina, at the back of your eye.”
Consequently, vision can become blurry and distorted, and sufferers may find they sometimes see double - when you see two images of one object.
Bright lights: It can make viewing uncomfortable
It may also cause people to become more short-sighted, when distant objects appear blurred and nearer objects are clearer.
Additionally, it can become uncomfortable to see things in very bright light.
The RNIB, also warn that seeing halos around lights at night is another indicator of the condition.
It’s often diagnosed in teenagers and young people, but symptoms can develop over a period of time.
The state of Britain's eyesight
Treatment options: Glasses can usually be used to help
According to the RNIB, eye drops and other medications won’t help, but fortunately there are a number of treatment options.
In its early stages, glasses or soft contact lenses can be enlisted to correct vision.
However, as the cornea becomes thinner and steeper, rigid gas permeable (RGP) contact lenses may be needed.
In very advanced cases, a corneal transplant might be required.