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Definition

By Mayo Clinic staff

Keratoconus (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 generally occurs in people ages 10 to 25. The condition may progress slowly for 10 years or longer.

Vision problems can be corrected with glasses or soft contact lenses early on in the condition. As keratoconus progresses, you may have to be fitted with rigid gas permeable contact lenses or other types of contact lenses. Advanced keratoconus may require a cornea transplant.

Symptoms
References
  1. Keratoconus. American Optometric Association. http://www.aoa.org/keratoconus.xml. Accessed Nov. 15, 2012.
  2. What is the cornea? National Eye Institute. http://www.nei.nih.gov/health/cornealdisease/. Accessed Nov. 15, 2012.
  3. Keratoconus. The Merck Manuals: The Merck Manual for Healthcare Professionals. http://www.merckmanuals.com/professional/eye_disorders/corneal_disorders/keratoconus.html?qt=keratoconus&alt=sh. Accessed Nov. 15, 2012.
  4. Yanoff M, ed., et al. Ophthalmology. 3rd ed. Edinburgh, U.K.: Mosby Elsevier; 2009. http://www.mdconsult.com/das/book/body/212799885-2/0/1869/0.html. Accessed Nov. 15, 2012.
  5. Riordan-Eva P, et al. Vaughan & Asbury's General Ophthalmology. 18th ed. New York, N.Y.: The McGraw-Hill Companies; 2011. http://www.accessmedicine.com/resourceTOC.aspx?resourceID=720. Accessed Nov. 15, 2012.
  6. Keratoconus symptoms. American Academy of Ophthalmology. http://www.geteyesmart.org/eyesmart/diseases/keratoconus-symptoms.cfm. Accessed Nov. 21, 2012.
  7. Bower KS. Laser refractive surgery. http://www.uptodate.com/index. Accessed Nov. 21, 2012.
  8. Romero-Jimenez M, et al. Keratoconus: A review. Contact Lens & Anterior Eye. 2010;33:157.
  9. Keratoconus treatment. American Academy of Ophthalmology. http://www.geteyesmart.org/eyesmart/diseases/keratoconus-treatment.cfm. Accessed Nov. 21, 2012.
  10. What causes keratoconus? American Academy of Ophthalmology. http://www.geteyesmart.org/eyesmart/diseases/keratoconus-cause.cfm. Accessed Nov. 26, 2012.
  11. Kymes SM, et al. Changes in the quality-of-life of people with keratoconus. American Journal of Ophthalmology. 2008;145:611.
  12. Keratoconus diagnosis. American Academy of Ophthalmology. www.geteyesmart.org/eyesmart/diseases/keratoconus-diagnosis.cfm. Accessed Nov. 21, 2012.
  13. Comprehensive eye and vision examination. American Optometric Association. http://www.aoa.org/x4725.xml. Accessed Nov. 15, 2012.
  14. Li Y, et al. Corneal epithelial thickness mapping by Fourier-domain optical coherence tomography in normal and keratoconic eyes. Ophthalmology. 2011;30:1510.
  15. Barnett M, et al. Contact lenses in the management of keratoconus. Cornea. 2011;30:1510.
  16. Schornack MM, et al. Scleral lenses in the management of keratoconus. Eye & Contact Lens. 2010;36:39.
  17. Jhanji V, et al. Management of keratoconus: Current scenario. The British Journal of Ophthalmology. 2011;95:1044.
  18. Evaluation of the ophthalmologic patient. The Merck Manuals: The Merck Manual for Healthcare Professionals. http://www.merckmanuals.com/professional/eye_disorders/approach_to_the_ophthalmologic_patient/evaluation_of_the_ophthalmologic_patient.html?qt=slit%20lamp&alt=sh#v1152031. Accessed Nov. 28, 2012.
  19. Sugar J, et al. What causes keratonconus? Cornea. 2012;31:716.
  20. Robertson DM (expert opinion). Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minn. Dec. 21, 2012.
  21. Keratoconus. American Optometric Association. http://www.aoa.org/keratoconus.xml. Accessed Nov. 15, 2012.
  22. What is the cornea? National Eye Institute. http://www.nei.nih.gov/health/cornealdisease/. Accessed Nov. 15, 2012.
  23. Keratoconus. The Merck Manuals: The Merck Manual for Healthcare Professionals. http://www.merckmanuals.com/professional/eye_disorders/corneal_disorders/keratoconus.html?qt=keratoconus&alt=sh. Accessed Nov. 15, 2012.
  24. Comprehensive eye and vision examination. American Optometric Association. http://www.aoa.org/eye-exams.xml. Accessed Nov. 15, 2012.
  25. Yanoff M, ed., et al. Ophthalmology. 3rd ed. Edinburgh, U.K.: Mosby Elsevier; 2009. http://www.mdconsult.com/das/book/body/212799885-2/0/1869/0.html. Accessed Nov. 15, 2012.
  26. Keratoconus diagnosis. American Academy of Ophthalmology. http://www.geteyesmart.org/eyesmart/diseases/keratoconus-diagnosis.cfm. Accessed Nov. 21, 2012.
  27. Romero-Jimenez M, et al. Keratoconus: A review. Contact Lens & Anterior Eye. 2010;33:157.
  28. Barnett M, et al. Contact lenses in the management of keratoconus. Cornea. 2011;30:1510.
DS01116 Feb. 20, 2013

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