Keratoconus

  Hi,
  I have been diagnosed with Keratoconus and was wondering how/why
  I developed it.
  What is the most effective treatment for this disease?  Is there
  a solution besides a cornea transplant?
  If I don't get a cornea transplant, what will happen when I get
  older?  Will it be worse than it is now?
  Thank you in advance for answering my questions!
  
  Marlene Wisz

[hfhs md ke]

_
marlene-
keratoconus ( = cone shaped cornea ) is usually an inherited corneal disorder, often in an autosomal dominant fashion. this means that approx. 50% of family members may end up with it. but it also can be random with no other family members affected. that being said, what happens is that overtime the inferior part of the cornea thins and causes the cornea to take on a cone shaped appearance instead of the usual dome shape. this typically causes a shift towards nearsightedness with astigmatism. the good news is that most patients do not need a corneal transplant, they usually can be corrected with a gas permeable contact lens. in fact in mild cases, glasses may suffice.  however, in some patients the disorder is progressive and eventually the patient can no longer wear contacts to correct their vision and then a transplant is required. there still is good news at this point. the majority of patients who need a transplant do very well and the disorder does not recur. i suggest a thorough evaluation by an ophthalmologist if you have not seen one yet, including what is called "topography" of the corneas ( a computerized program that fully maps out the contours of the cornea ) and by the way, if the disorder is stable for a few years it is unlikely to worsen when u are older. i hope this helped.
key words: keratoconus, cornea, topography