David Saunders
If your vision’s gone fuzzy and your glasses keep getting stronger, don’t just blame middle age or bad lighting. It could be Keratoconus — a quiet troublemaker that affects around one in 2,000 people in the UK yet often flies under the radar until it’s done real damage.
This Keratoconus Awareness Day (10 November 2025), the specialists at Centre for Sight want people to look a little closer at what their eyes might be trying to say. The message is simple: spot it early, treat it early, keep your sight.
“Keratoconus often begins during the teenage years or early adulthood and can progress silently,” says Mr Saj Khan MB BS FRCSEd (Ophth) FWCRS, Consultant Ophthalmic Surgeon at Centre for Sight. “Many people simply change their glasses more often, unaware that their cornea is thinning and changing shape. Early diagnosis is vital because modern treatments can stabilise the condition and prevent severe vision loss.”
When the Cornea Starts to Warp
The cornea is the clear, curved window that focuses everything you see. In keratoconus, it weakens and bulges forward like a dented lens, bending light the wrong way and turning crisp edges into ghosts and smears. The world looks as though it’s been left out in the rain.
Doctors still don’t have a full explanation for why it happens, but genetics, allergies, eczema and constant eye-rubbing all seem to play a part. What they do know is that it rarely shouts for attention; it creeps up, usually unevenly in both eyes.
Early Clues You Shouldn’t Ignore
- Blurred or distorted vision
- Increased sensitivity to light
- Frequent changes in your glasses prescription
- Night-time glare or halos
- Eye strain or headaches
Left to run its course, keratoconus can rob you of clear vision entirely, sometimes leading to the need for a corneal transplant.
Treatments That Keep You in the Clear
At Centre for Sight, specialists use the latest techniques to stop the condition before it takes over:
Corneal Cross-Linking (CXL) – a quick, minimally invasive procedure that strengthens the cornea and halts further thinning.
Specialised Contact Lenses – rigid or hybrid designs that create a smooth optical surface for sharper sight.
Topography-Guided Laser Treatment – precision laser work that reshapes the cornea and restores focus.
Corneal Transplantation – for advanced cases, replacing damaged tissue can bring back lasting clarity.
“Today’s treatments can stabilise keratoconus and protect vision for life — but they depend on early diagnosis,” adds Mr Khan. “We want to encourage people, especially younger adults experiencing unexplained visual changes, to get a full corneal scan at a reputable eye clinic.”
A Clear-Sighted Reputation
Founded in 1996 by Mr Sheraz Daya, Centre for Sight has become one of the UK’s most respected eye-care centres. Mr Daya has carried out more than 35,000 cataract procedures and helped pioneer modern corneal and laser techniques.
The clinic was among the first in Britain to perform LASIK and to use Implantable Contact Lenses (ICLs) — well before they became routine.
Nearly three decades on, its team continues to restore and protect vision for thousands of people every year, proving that when it comes to eyesight, the right help at the right time can change everything.
For more information, visit centreforsight.com.
