What is Keratoconus?

What is Keratoconus?

• Keratoconus: A rare degenerative eye disorder where the corneas of the eye become progressively thinner and cone-shaped which affects vision.
• Keratoconus: A noninflammatory, usually bilateral protrusion of the cornea, the apex being displaced downward and nasally. It occurs most commonly in females at about puberty. The cause is unknown but hereditary factors may play a role. The -conus refers to the cone shape of the corneal protrusion. (From Dorland, 27th ed)
  Source - Diseases Database
• Keratoconus: abnormal cone-shaped protrusion of the cornea of the eye; can be treated by epikeratophakia.
  Source - WordNet 2.1

Keratoconus is listed as a "rare disease" by the Office of Rare Diseases (ORD) of the National Institutes of Health (NIH). This means that Keratoconus, or a subtype of Keratoconus, affects less than 200,000 people in the US population.
Source - National Institutes of Health (NIH)

Keratoconus: Introduction

Types of Keratoconus:

Broader types of Keratoconus:

• Corneal Dystrophies
• Eye conditions
• Cornea disorders
• more types...»

How many people get Keratoconus?

Prevalance of Keratoconus: 1-in-2000 Americans
Prevalance Rate of Keratoconus: approx 1 in 2,000 or 0.05% or 136,000 people in USA [about data]
Prevalance of Keratoconus: the most common corneal dystrophy in the U.S., affecting one in every 2000 Americans. (Source: excerpt from Facts About the Cornea and Corneal Disease: NEI)

Who gets Keratoconus?

Patient Profile for Keratoconus: Teenagers and 20's

Gender Ratio for Keratoconus: slight female predominance

How serious is Keratoconus?

Complications of Keratoconus: see complications of Keratoconus

What causes Keratoconus?

Causes of Keratoconus: see causes of Keratoconus

What are the symptoms of Keratoconus?

Symptoms of Keratoconus: see symptoms of Keratoconus

Complications of Keratoconus: see complications of Keratoconus

Onset of Keratoconus: usually after puberty

Keratoconus: Testing

Diagnostic testing: see tests for Keratoconus.

Misdiagnosis: see misdiagnosis and Keratoconus.

How is it treated?

Treatments for Keratoconus: see treatments for Keratoconus
Research for Keratoconus: see research for Keratoconus

Organs Affected by Keratoconus:

Organs and body systems related to Keratoconus include:

• Eye
• Cornea

Name and Aliases of Keratoconus

Main name of condition: Keratoconus

conical cornea, congenital keratoconus, Noninflammatory corneal thinning

Noninflammatory corneal thinning
Source - Office of Rare Diseases (ORD) of the National Institutes of Health (NIH)

Research the causes of these diseases that are similar to, or related to, Keratoconus:

• Corneal disease
• Stromal thinning
• Corneal scarring
• Irregular astigmatism
• Myopia
• Vision loss
• Fleischer ring
• Descemet membrane
• Intracorneal plastic rings
• Intacs
• Corneal transplantation
• Penetrating keratoplasty
• PKP
• Contact lens

 » Next page: Prevalence and Incidence of Keratoconus

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• Prognosis of Keratoconus
• Causes of Keratoconus
• Symptoms of Keratoconus

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