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Prevention
By Mayo Clinic staffMost cases of keratoconus aren't preventable, but you can take some steps to be sure you don't cause it yourself:
- Use care when rubbing your eyes. If you vigorously rub your eyes every day, you may damage your corneas in a way that can lead to keratoconus. Although the relationship between eye rubbing and keratoconus hasn't been proved, if you do need to rub or wipe your eyes, do so as gently and as little as possible. Some people don't realize the extent of their eye-rubbing habit until a family member or friend points it out, so pay attention if someone has mentioned it.
- Follow instructions when wearing rigid contact lenses. If you wear hard contact lenses, be sure to use them as directed and have the fitting checked regularly to avoid damage to your eyes. Never use someone else's hard contact lenses.
References
- 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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