Corneal Collagen Cross-Linking in the Stabilization of Keratoconus

[摘要] Keratoconus is a corneal disorder involving progressive deformation and thinning of the cornea due to hitherto unknown causes. The disorder often begins in the second decade of life and always affects both eyes, albeit sometimes to highly varying degrees. The disease incidence is approximately 13 cases/100 000 inhabitants per year, with the prevalence lying between 200 and 400 affected individuals/100 000 inhabitants ( 1 ). Children and adolescents with, e.g., atopic dermatitis, a positive family history, or trisomy 21 are at greater risk. Rahi et al. found atopy in 35% of individuals affected by keratoconus, whereas this was the case in only 12% of control subjects ( 2 ). However, frequent vigorous eye rubbing among atopic individuals might explain the correlation with keratoconus, since after a multivariate risk factor analysis only eye rubbing but not atopy remained a significant predictor of keratoconus ( 3 ). Therefore, early indications of keratoconus can also be identified by the dermatologist or pediatrician; patients who develop visual difficulties should be referred to an ophthalmologist.

[学科分类] 医学（综合）