Keratoconus

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Causes

By Mayo Clinic staff

What triggers corneal thinning in keratoconus usually is unknown. Some experts believe that keratoconus may not be a single disorder but instead could stem from several different causes. If you have a habit of vigorously rubbing your eyes, it's possible to injure your corneas. A few people who frequently and vigorously rub their eyes develop keratoconus, though a cause-and-effect relationship remains unproved.

References
  1. 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.
  2. Keratoconus. American Optometric Association. http://www.aoa.org/x4721.sml?prt. Accessed Sept. 10, 2010.
  3. Facts about the cornea and corneal disease. National Eye Institute. http://www.nei.nih.gov/health/cornealdiseae/. Accessed Sept. 10, 2010.
  4. 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.
  5. Keratoconus. The Merck Manuals: The Merck Manual for Healthcare Professionals. http://www.merck.com/mmpe/print/sec20/ch230/ch230i.html. Accessed Sept. 10, 2010.
  6. Schena LB. Keratoconus: Questions and solutions. American Academy of Ophthalmology. http://www.aao.or/aao/publications/eyenet/200703/refractive.cfm. Accessed Sept. 10, 2010.
  7. Gupta N, et al. Keratoconus: Diagnosis and management. http://www.aao.or/aao/publications/eyenet/200705/pearls.cfm. Accessed Sept. 10, 2010.
  8. Kymes SM, et al. Changes in the quality-of-life of people with keratoconus. American Journal of Ophthalmology. 2008;145:611.
  9. Comprehensive eye and vision examination. American Optometric Association. http://www.aoa.org/x4725.xml. Accessed Sept. 16, 2010.
  10. Belin MW, et al. Keratoconus: It is hard to define, but ... . American Journal of Ophthalmology. 2007;143:500.
  11. Mannis MJ. Keratoconus: Why and when do we turn to surgical therapy? American Journal of Ophthalmology. 2006;142:1044.
  12. Crosby MB, et al. Management of keratoconus. Contemporary Ophthalmology. 2007;6:1.
  13. Yildiz EH, et al. Quality of life in keratoconus patients after penetrating keratoplasty. American Journal of Ophthalmology. 2010;149:416.
  14. Han DCY, et al. Comparison of outcomes of lamellar keratoplasty and penetrating keratoplasty in keratoconus. American Journal of Ophthalmology. 2009;148:744.
  15. Vinciguerra P, et al. Intraoperative and postoperative effects of corneal collagen cross-linking on progressive keratoconus. Archives of Ophthalmology. 2009;127:1258.
  16. Kymionis GD, et al. Long-term follow-up of Intacs in keratoconus. American Journal of Ophthalmology. 2007;143:236.
DS01116 Oct. 28, 2010

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