Zhang Qiang and his cousin Li Yue sat in the corner of the café. The two were immersed in a relaxed and happy chat, Li Yue suddenly sighed lightly, took off the glasses on the bridge of his nose, and massaged the corners of his eyes with his fingers: "Sometimes I really wish that these glasses could become a part of the body, so that I don't have to worry about suddenly losing sight one day." ”
When Zhang Qiang heard this, his heart tightened suddenly. A few weeks ago, there was heart-wrenching news from the family group that a distant cousin, Xiao Jie, had been diagnosed with keratoconus, a rare and possibly hereditary eye disease, due to a sharp loss of eyesight.
"Do you know, Yueyue, Xiaojie's situation makes me think that our family may all face an unknown challenge." Zhang Qiang spoke slowly, his eyes full of uncertainty about the future.
Li Yue was stunned when she heard this, and then a trace of worry appeared in her eyes. Naturally, the conversation turned to keratoconus, a seemingly distant but imminent threat.
"I've looked up some information, and keratoconus seems to be quite complicated, especially for young people, and it's easy to overlook. At first, you may just feel that your vision is a little blurry, and you think it is overusing your eyes, but it turns out to be such a serious eye disease. ”
01. What is keratoconus?
Keratoconus is a rare ocular disease characterized by abnormal dilation, thinning, and anterior conic-shaped protrusions in the central or paracentral region.
This lesion causes changes in the normal curvature of the cornea, causing a high degree of irregular astigmatism and decreased vision, especially in adolescence, and often affects both eyes one after the other.
The exact cause of keratoconus is not fully understood, but studies have shown that it may be genetic, with about 6% to 10% of patients reporting a family history.
In addition to genetic predisposition, physical eye irritants such as long-term eye rubbing, laxity eyelid syndrome, and some ocular biomechanical abnormalities have also been implicated as possible triggers. The disease is not accompanied by inflammation and usually progresses gradually, starting with mild blurred vision, progressing to hard-to-correct vision loss and, in severe cases, blindness.
This morphological change in the cornea can severely interfere with the focus of light after it enters the eye, causing distortion and drastic reduction of vision, especially for distance vision and night vision. Patients in advanced stages of the disease may experience acute corneal edema and corneal scarring, further exacerbating vision loss.
Modern medicine offers a variety of treatments for keratoconus aimed at controlling the progression of the condition and improving vision. Early diagnosis is key, and special tests such as corneal topography can be used to identify the disease.
02. Family history that cannot be ignored
The shadow of heredity plays a significant role in the discussion of keratoconus, an eye disease. Although not all cases of keratoconus can be traced directly back to a family history.
However, data is available that about 6% to 10% of patients report similar conditions in their families, revealing the importance of genetic factors in this type of disease. It's not just a number, it's a warning light to those members of the family who have known people with keratoconus that they may be at higher risk than the average person.
The complexity of genetics means that genetic predisposition may exist in more subtle ways, even if there is no direct family history to be revealed. Some variations in the genetic code, even if they are not present in the parents or grandparents, may still show symptoms in the next generation or generations after.
On a deeper level, the interaction between genetic background and environmental factors is also an important consideration for the development of keratoconus. Even if you carry a genetic risk, appropriate environmental management, such as avoiding frequent eye rubbing, controlling allergic eye reactions, and practicing good eye hygiene.
It is important to note that genetic counseling is particularly important in this process. Consulting with a geneticist can help assess an individual's risk, guide you on the need for specific genetic testing, and develop a personalized health management plan.
Vision is undoubtedly one of the most precious gifts that God has given us. The case of keratoconus is not only a wake-up call for individual health, but also an affectionate call to the family and even the society - let us cherish and care for this right to "see" even more.
Note: The content in the article is for reference only Some of the pictures are from the network and the infringement contact is deleted