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Tests and diagnosis

By Mayo Clinic staff

To diagnose keratoconus, your eye doctor (ophthalmologist) will review your symptoms and medical history and conduct a routine eye examination. Your eye doctor may conduct other tests 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.

    Your eye doctor may ask you to look through a device that contains wheels of different lenses, to help determine which combination of lenses give you the sharpest vision. Doctors may use a hand-held instrument (retinoscope) to evaluate your eye's projection and reflection of light.

    This test may include a measurement taken by a special instrument (automatic refractor), which automatically checks how light is projected and reflected by your eye.

  • Slit-lamp examination. In this test, your doctor directs a vertical beam of light on the surface of your eye and uses a low-powered microscope to view your eye. Your doctor will evaluate the shape of your cornea and look for other potential problems in your cornea or other parts of your eye.

    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. In this test, your eye doctor focuses a circle of light on your cornea. Your doctor measures the reflection to evaluate the curve of your cornea.
  • Computerized corneal mapping. Optical scanning techniques, such as optical coherence tomography and corneal topography, take images of your cornea. The tests create a topographical map of your cornea's surface and measure the thickness of your cornea.
Treatments and drugs Preparing for your appointment
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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