Keratoconus and its Association with Other Ocular Diseases

Abstract

Purpose: To determine the association of keratoconus with other ocular diseases.

Material and Methods: A study on Keratoconus (KC) was conducted in the Department of Ophthalmology, Gomal Medical College, DHQ Teaching Hospital, Dera Ismail Khan (NWFP) from July 2003 to June 2006. Fifty cases of Keratoconus were studied. Each patient underwent a complete ocular examination including visual acuity, refraction, slitlamp biomicroscopy, keratoscopy, keratometry, applanation tonometery, direct and indirect ophthalmoscopy.

Results: The majority of patients 41 (82%) presented between 13 and 28 years of age. Male to female ratio was 7:1.Forty one (82%) patients had bilateral keratoconus and nine (18%) had unilateral keratoconus. The most common ocular association was vernal catarrh (64%). Penetrating keratoplasty was suggested for 49 eyes (53.85%), and spectacles correction alone or spectacles with contact lens correction in 42 eyes (46.15%) in order to improve the visual acuity of the patients to acceptable level.

Conclusion: The commonest ocular association was vernal catarrh (64%). Keratoconus is a problem of young people and 53.85% of eyes needed corneal graft. Because of non availability of donor tissue material, educating the people in our society through all the possible media to donate their eyes is required.