Keratoconus is a disorder of the cornea that causes visual distortion. Changes in the cellular structures of the cornea cause it to thin and bend into a pronounced cone shape, losing its normal gentle curvature. This leads to several types of visual distortion including blurring, halos around lights, and, in some cases, rapid vision loss. The signature sign of Keratoconus is the perception of multiple ghostly images, called monocular polyopia.
The causes of Keratoconus are not yet known, but one possible link is magnesium deficiency. Numerous
studies have reported Keratoconic-like changes in the corneas of people suffering from magnesium deficiency, including thinning membranes that fragment, mitochondrial swelling, changes in protein synthesis, and degenerated collagen fibers. Some studies have also found a statistically significant higher rate of magnesium deficiency amongst Keratoconus sufferers than amongst a control group.While studies have yet to offer a conclusive link, getting your magnesium levels checked if you suffer from Keratoconus is a good idea.
And, some magnesium supplementation may be beneficial for general eye health. Studies report that up to 80% of Americans are deficient in magnesium, which means most people can benefit from supplementation. Magnesium plays a number of critical roles in health in addition to supporting the cornea.
Learn more about Keratoconus on our vision support page.
