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Definition
By Mayo Clinic staffKeratoconus (ker-uh-toe-KOH-nus) occurs when your cornea — the clear, dome-shaped front surface of your eye — thins and gradually bulges outward into a cone shape. A cone-shaped cornea causes blurred vision and may cause sensitivity to light and glare. Keratoconus usually affects both eyes and typically begins during puberty or in your late teens. The condition may progress slowly for 10 years or longer.
In the early stages of keratoconus, vision problems can be corrected with glasses or soft contact lenses. As keratoconus progresses, you may have to be fitted with special rigid gas permeable contact lenses. Advanced keratoconus may require surgery.
- Biswell R. Cornea. In: Riordan-Eva P, et al. Vaughan & Asbury's General Ophthalmology. 17th ed. New York, N.Y.: McGraw-Hill; 2008. http://www.accessmedicine.com/content.aspx?aID=3090961. Accessed Sept. 10, 2010.
- Keratoconus. American Optometric Association. http://www.aoa.org/x4721.sml?prt. Accessed Sept. 10, 2010.
- Facts about the cornea and corneal disease. National Eye Institute. http://www.nei.nih.gov/health/cornealdiseae/. Accessed Sept. 10, 2010.
- Sugar J, et al. Keratoconus and other ectasias. In: Yanoff M, et al., eds. Ophthalmology. 3rd ed. Philadelphia, Pa.: Mosby; 2008. http://www.mdconsult.com/das/book/body/218145129-3/1051361285/1869/244.html#4-u1.0-B978-0-323-04332-8..00042-1_987. Accessed Sept. 10, 2010.
- Keratoconus. The Merck Manuals: The Merck Manual for Healthcare Professionals. http://www.merck.com/mmpe/print/sec20/ch230/ch230i.html. Accessed Sept. 10, 2010.
- Schena LB. Keratoconus: Questions and solutions. American Academy of Ophthalmology. http://www.aao.or/aao/publications/eyenet/200703/refractive.cfm. Accessed Sept. 10, 2010.
- Gupta N, et al. Keratoconus: Diagnosis and management. http://www.aao.or/aao/publications/eyenet/200705/pearls.cfm. Accessed Sept. 10, 2010.
- Kymes SM, et al. Changes in the quality-of-life of people with keratoconus. American Journal of Ophthalmology. 2008;145:611.
- Comprehensive eye and vision examination. American Optometric Association. http://www.aoa.org/x4725.xml. Accessed Sept. 16, 2010.
- Belin MW, et al. Keratoconus: It is hard to define, but ... . American Journal of Ophthalmology. 2007;143:500.
- Mannis MJ. Keratoconus: Why and when do we turn to surgical therapy? American Journal of Ophthalmology. 2006;142:1044.
- Crosby MB, et al. Management of keratoconus. Contemporary Ophthalmology. 2007;6:1.
- Yildiz EH, et al. Quality of life in keratoconus patients after penetrating keratoplasty. American Journal of Ophthalmology. 2010;149:416.
- Han DCY, et al. Comparison of outcomes of lamellar keratoplasty and penetrating keratoplasty in keratoconus. American Journal of Ophthalmology. 2009;148:744.
- Vinciguerra P, et al. Intraoperative and postoperative effects of corneal collagen cross-linking on progressive keratoconus. Archives of Ophthalmology. 2009;127:1258.
- Kymionis GD, et al. Long-term follow-up of Intacs in keratoconus. American Journal of Ophthalmology. 2007;143:236.
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