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Causes

By Mayo Clinic staff

The cause of keratoconus is unknown.

Keratoconus may be associated with:

  • Vigorous rubbing of your eyes
  • Other eye conditions, including retinitis pigmentosa, retinopathy of prematurity or vernal keratoconjunctivitis
  • A combination of several disorders, such as enzyme abnormalities or hereditary factors including Down syndrome
  • Wearing contact lenses for several years
Risk factors 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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