Keratoconus

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Tests and diagnosis

By Mayo Clinic staff

Your ophthalmologist can diagnose keratoconus during a routine eye exam, but more sophisticated tests may be done to determine the exact shape of your cornea. Tests to diagnose keratoconus include:

  • Eye refraction. In this standard vision test, your eye doctor uses special equipment that measures your eyes to check for astigmatism and other vision problems. This may include a measurement taken by a computerized refractor, which automatically checks your eyes' focusing power, or by retinoscopy, a technique that evaluates light reflected by your retina. Then your eye doctor may ask you to look through a mask-like device that contains wheels of different lenses. This helps your doctor find the combination of lenses that gives you the sharpest vision.
  • Slit-lamp examination. This test shines a vertical beam of light on the surface of your eye while the eye doctor looks through a low-powered microscope to view the shape of your cornea. The test may be repeated after eyedrops are used to dilate your pupils so that the doctor can view the back of your cornea.
  • Keratometry. A circle of light is focused on your cornea, and the reflection is used to evaluate your cornea's curvature.
  • Computerized corneal mapping. Optical scanning techniques, known as computerized corneal topography, can take a picture of your cornea and generate a topographical map of your eye's surface.
Treatments and drugs Preparing for your appointment
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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