keratoconus
Sign in to saveAlso known as conical cornea, KC, KCN, KTCN, keratokonus
Keratoconus is an eye disorder in which the cornea, the transparent front part of the eye, gradually thins and bulges outward into a cone shape. This causes distorted vision, including blurry vision, double vision, increased nearsightedness, irregular astigmatism, and light sensitivity, which can reduce quality of life. Both eyes are usually affected.
Key facts
- Medical condition.name
- Keratoconus
- Medical condition.image
- Keratoconus-with-Munsons-sign-USA-1965.jpg
- Medical condition.caption
- The "cone shaped cornea" that is characteristic of Keratoconus
- Medical condition.field
- Ophthalmology, optometry
- Medical condition.synonyms
- KC, KCN, conical cornea
- Medical condition.pronounce
- KEHR-uh- toh-KOH-nus
- Medical condition.symptoms
- Blurry vision, nearsightedness, light sensitivity
- Medical condition.onset
- Early adulthood
- Medical condition.causes
- Unknown
- Medical condition.diagnosis
- Slit lamp exam
- Medical condition.treatment
- Glasses, contacts, surgery
- Medical condition.frequency
- ~1 in 2,000 people
via Wikipedia infobox
Research
10,832 papers- Keratoconus: An updated review.Contact lens & anterior eye : the journal of the British Contact Lens Association · 2022
- Pediatric keratoconus - Current perspectives and clinical challenges.Indian journal of ophthalmology · 2021
- [Keratoconus].Journal francais d'ophtalmologie · 2013
- Pediatric keratoconus.Survey of ophthalmology · 2025
- Keratoconus in Africa: A systematic review and meta-analysis.Ophthalmic & physiological optics : the journal of the British College of Ophthalmic Opticians (Optometrists) · 2021
via PubMed
Wikidata facts
- Image
- Keratoconus-with-Munsons-sign-USA-1965.jpg
Show 8 more facts
- Commons category
- Keratoconus
- NCI Thesaurus ID
- C26806
- Commons gallery
- Keratoconus
- ICPC 2 ID
- F99
- exact match
- www.orpha.net/ORDO/Orphanet_156071
- short name
- Conical Cornea
- ICD-9-CM
- 371.6
- social media followers
- 13978
via Wikidata · CC0
~25 min read
Article
26 sectionsContents
- Signs and symptoms
- Genetics
- Pathophysiology
- Diagnosis
- Stages
- Treatment
- Lenses
- Hybrid lenses
- Scleral lenses
- Piggybacking
- Surgery
- Corneal transplant
- Epikeratophakia
- Corneal ring implants
- Corneal Allogenic Intrastromal Ring Segments (CAIRS)
- Cross-linking
- Keratotomy
- Prognosis
- Corneal hydrops
- Epidemiology
- History
- Society and culture
- Notable individuals with keratoconus
- Related disorders
- References
- External links
Keratoconus is an eye disorder in which the cornea, the transparent front part of the eye, gradually thins and bulges outward into a cone shape. This causes distorted vision, including blurry vision, double vision, increased nearsightedness, irregular astigmatism, and light sensitivity, which can reduce quality of life. Both eyes are usually affected.
The cause is not fully understood but likely involves a combination of genetic, environmental, and hormonal factors. Having a parent, sibling, or child with keratoconus increases risk significantly. Environmental risk factors include frequent eye rubbing and allergies. Diagnosis is typically made with corneal topography, which maps the shape of the cornea and reveals characteristic changes.