Keratoconus

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Symptoms

By Mayo Clinic staff

Signs and symptoms of keratoconus may change as the disease progresses. They include:

  • Blurred or distorted vision
  • Increased sensitivity to bright light and glare
  • Problems with night vision
  • Headaches from eyestrain
  • Sudden worsening or clouding of vision, caused by a condition in which the back of your cornea ruptures and fills with fluid (hydrops)

When to see a doctor
See your eye doctor (ophthalmologist or optometrist) if you have astigmatism (irregular curvature of the eye) and your eyesight is worsening rapidly. Your eye doctor also will likely look for signs of keratoconus during routine eye exams.

If you're considering laser-assisted in-situ keratomileusis (LASIK) eye surgery, make sure your doctor checks for signs of keratoconus before you proceed.

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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