Holiday visits often mean someone else’s cat on the couch, a dusty guest room and a fireplace going all evening. For many people that just means a few sneezes. If you have keratoconus, itchy eyes can lead to a habit that matters a lot more: rubbing.
Why rubbing matters with keratoconus
Keratoconus is a condition in which the cornea, the clear dome at the front of the eye, thins and bulges into a cone shape. That throws light out of focus and makes vision blurry and distorted. The American Academy of Ophthalmology (AAO) notes that keratoconus is associated with eye allergies and excessive eye rubbing, and it advises people with keratoconus to try not to rub their eyes, because rubbing can damage thin corneal tissue and make symptoms worse.
Other facts worth knowing
- Keratoconus often starts in the late teens to early 20s, and symptoms can slowly worsen over about 10 to 20 years.
- About 1 in 10 people with keratoconus has a parent with the condition, according to the AAO.
- It usually affects both eyes, sometimes very differently.
A plan for holiday allergy season
- Ask about allergy treatment before you travel. The AAO suggests talking with your ophthalmologist about medicines to control allergies if itching makes you rub.
- Use cool compresses and preservative-free artificial tears instead of your knuckles.
- Wash your hands after petting animals and keep pets out of the room where you sleep.
- Notice night rubbing. Many people rub on waking. A sleep mask can help.
- Take care with specialty lenses. Clean scleral or rigid lenses exactly as instructed while you are away, and bring your supplies.
When to call
Call your eye doctor if your vision suddenly gets worse, your eye becomes painful and red, or your lenses no longer fit comfortably.
Many people with keratoconus wear specialty contact lenses; this contact lens guide covers safe lens habits.
The single most useful thing my keratoconus patients can do on their own costs nothing: keep their hands away from their eyes.
Source: What Is Keratoconus? (American Academy of Ophthalmology). This article is an educational summary written by Khanna Vision Institute and is not a substitute for medical advice.
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