TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Sun Chi-chin (孫啟欽), deputy superintendent of Keelung Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, said about 40,000 people in Taiwan are affected by keratoconus, with fewer than half receiving treatment, raising the risk of severe vision damage, CNA reported.

Keratoconus is a chronic eye condition in which the cornea becomes thin and bulges into a cone shape, causing blurred and distorted vision and severe nearsightedness. It usually affects people from their teens to their 30s.

The cornea focuses light to form clear images, but when it becomes misshapen, light scatters and vision becomes distorted, Sun noted. Most people with the condition do not seek treatment until their vision has significantly worsened.

Early treatment typically includes wearing glasses or special contact lenses. In severe cases, such as when scarring develops or lenses no longer work, a corneal transplant or cornea repair surgery may be needed.

Sun noted the cornea repair surgery uses a femtosecond laser to create a small tunnel in the cornea, where a curved ring made from donated corneal tissue is placed to strengthen the cornea and improve its shape.

The donated tissue ring causes less irritation and lowers the risk of rejection compared with traditional synthetic rings, but may cause temporary glare at night, Sun said. He added the ring can be removed or replaced if needed.

The hospital said its team has completed 11 corneal repair procedures. People’s vision improved significantly within three months following the surgery.

Sun added people who frequently rub their eyes or have eye allergies are at high risk for the condition. He stressed avoiding eye rubbing and taking five-minute breaks every 30 minutes to prevent dry eyes.

The National Eye Bank of Taiwan said more than 100 people annually face severe vision loss from corneal damage or infections that require surgery. The bank said the average wait for a transplant has been reduced from eight months to 92 days through improvements in local donation networks and preservation techniques.

Chen Jiunn-liang (陳俊良), head of the eye department at Kaohsiung Veterans General Hospital, said artificial corneas differ from natural ones in material and structure. He added that implanting an artificial cornea may retain chemicals, which can increase the risk of rejection and transplant failure.