Understanding Keratoconus: How Do People with This Condition See the World?
How do people with keratoconus see the world? For those of us with keratoconus, the world appears blurred, distorted, and lacking in depth.
Visual anomalies like ghosting, glare, and halos are common. Our brain often makes incorrect perception links, leading to a challenging visual experience.
Imagine looking through a frosted or warped glass window at every moment of your life. Imagine looking at a painting on a wall.
We understand it is a painting because we know something hanging on the wall, but a painting of what we have no idea. Or is it not a painting instead of a photograph? These analogies can begin to illustrate the daily visual reality for those of us with keratoconus.
Bridging the Gap: How People with Keratoconus See the World
This is a heartfelt endeavor to connect two worlds: those living with keratoconus and the people in their lives who wish to understand and support them. It’s a guide to foster empathy, awareness, and a shared language for describing this complex condition.
The Challenge of Keratoconus: A Distorted Cornea’s Impact
The Role of the Cornea in Vision
A healthy, smooth, perfectly shaped cornea is crucial for clear vision. It’s responsible for precisely bending light as it passes through the eye, onto the retina.
Irreversible Damage from Keratoconus: Our Corneal Challenges
The Domino Effect of Keratoconus on Vision
Due to the effects of keratoconus, our cornea is not smooth but filled with irregularities. This leads to a distorted and blurred view of the world. The damage of keratoconus causes a refractive error, disrupting the precise focus of light on the retina.
Navigating Frequent Vision Changes Due to Keratoconus
Keratoconus progresses through stages, each affecting vision uniquely. From mild blurring and light sensitivity in the early stages to severe distortion and scarring in the advanced stages, this leads to frequent vision acuity changes.
Communicating the Keratoconus Experience
Articulating the Invisible: Describing Keratoconus
Describing the visual experience of keratoconus can be challenging. For those newly diagnosed, and without proper treatment for keratoconus, it’s difficult to explain what someone with keratoconus sees, especially if they’ve had poor vision since adolescence.
Transforming Vision: The Role of Scleral Lenses in Keratoconus
A New Perspective Through Scleral Lenses
After years of poor vision and a corneal transplant, scleral lenses restored my vision to 20/20 in August 2017. Without my lenses, I am legally blind, and glasses are of little use. I am completely reliant on my lenses outside the home
Restored Vision: Comparing Keratoconus Sight Pre and Post-Scleral Lenses
My ability to explain how people with keratoconus see the world improved dramatically after my vision was restored. The stark contrast between the distorted world of keratoconus vision and the clarity provided by corrective lenses offers a newfound perspective.
Supporting Someone with Keratoconus
Understanding what the psychological effects of keratoconus are will go a long way in supporting someone with keratoconus along with recognizing their emotional needs.
It could mean just listening to us vent and providing a friendly, empathetic ear. Celebrating our victories, big or small, in our journey with keratoconus is also crucial.
Key Takeaways
- Keratoconus causes a distorted, blurred visual experience.
- Understanding and empathy are key in supporting those with keratoconus.
- Scleral lenses can significantly improve vision for people with keratoconus.
- The journey of living with keratoconus involves frequent changes and challenges.
To Summarize
Keratoconus significantly alters how one sees the world, with a range of visual distortions and challenges. Understanding, empathy, and the right support can transform the lives of those living with this condition.
This blog aims to bridge the understanding gap and provide a glimpse into the world as seen through the eyes of someone with keratoconus.
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