Keratoconus is often described as an invisible condition. From the outside, our eyes can look perfectly healthy, while the way we see the world is anything but. Explaining that experience to others can be incredibly difficult — how do you describe ghosting, halos, or smeared lights in a way that truly makes sense?

That’s why we’re excited to share a new tool from Keratomania: the Keratoconus Camera.

The Keratoconus Camera is a Progressive Web App (PWA) designed to help bridge the gap between lived experience and understanding. Using live visual effects, the app allows users to capture photos or videos that simulate common visual symptoms of keratoconus. It transforms an ordinary phone camera into a window into what KC vision can look like.

One of its standout features is an adjustable intensity slider, recognising that keratoconus is progressive and affects everyone differently. From mild ghosting to more severe distortion, the app lets users explore a range of visual experiences. As a PWA, it can be installed directly to your home screen, works offline once installed, and runs smoothly across both iOS and Android devices — no downloads or data needed.

It’s important to note that keratoconus vision is unique to each individual. No simulation can perfectly match someone’s exact experience, but the Keratoconus Camera offers something just as valuable: a powerful conversation starter. It helps others grasp why night driving is hard, why small text can be exhausting, or why lighting makes such a difference.

By making the invisible visible, tools like this help build empathy, awareness and understanding — not just for friends and family, but also for colleagues, educators and the wider public. We encourage you to explore the Keratoconus Camera and share it with the people you wish better understood what you see every day.

Give it a go here: https://keratomania.com/camera