The Clinical Feature of Keratoconus in Korean

ABSTRACT

This study was performed to evaluate epidemiology and progression of keratoconus in Korean. 122 patients(223 eyes)who visited Kang-Nam St.Mary's Hospital and Bu-Pyung our lady of mercy hospital with keratoconus from 1989 to 1998 were reviewed retrospectively. At the time of diagnosis, prevalence in male(75 patients)was greater than that in female(47 patients)and the rate bilateral involvement was 84.4%(103 patients). The average age was 18.33+/-6.79 years and there is no difference between that of male and female. The greatest number of patients(63 patients, 51.6%)had been diagnosed from 15 to 24 years old. The mean astigmatism was 3.92+/-1.91 diopters. Of the 19 patients with unilateral keratoconus, 10 patients were followed up over three years(average follow period 61months)and four reported that the disease had later been diagnosed in the contralateral eye. The greatest number of patients(107 eyes, 47.9%)had been examined from 0.02 to 0.1 in visual acuity without correction and 58 eyes(26.0%)achieved visual acuity with hard contact lens correction. Corneal findings included thinning(158 eyes), scarring(62 eyes), Fleischer ring(119 eyes), Vogt's striae(78 eyes). On corneal topography, a half of apex of cone(57 eyes of 107 eyes, 53.2%)was located in inferior temporal quadrant and highest rate of steepening(corneal power change away from the apex to the periphery along its semimeridian)was 2.70+/-1.48 diopters.