Keratoconus: diagnosis and management |
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Authors: | Michael Lawless FeRACO FRACS Douglas J Coster FRACO FRACS Anthony J. Phillips M. Phil SBCO FBOA HD FAAO DCLP Mark Loane FRACO FRACS |
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Affiliation: | Senior Registrar*Department of Ophthalmology, Flinders Medical Centre;Lions Professor, Department of Ophthalmology, Flinders Medical Centre;Optometrist, Department of Ophthalmology, Flinders Medical Centre;Staff Specialist, Department of Ophthalmology, Flinders Medical Centre |
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Abstract: | Keratoconus is a common condition whose clinical features represent a common effect on the cornea of a number of diverse processes. This review deals with the clinical signs and accompanying histological and biochemical changes within the cornea, evaluates the significance of associated ocular and systemic conditions and assesses the incidence and prevalence of the disorder. The wider ophthalmic community shares in the treatment of keratoconus, so the general principles of contact lens fitting associated with this difficult condition are examined and the specific protocol used at the Flinders Medical Centre is presented. When contact lenses are not tolerated or an adequate improvement in visual acuity is not achieved, surgery is the next option, so a full assessment is made of the risks and benefits of penetrating keratoplasty. Older techniques, such as thermokeratoplasty and lamellar keratoplasty, are examined and the new technique of epikeratophakia is evaluated. |
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Keywords: | Allograft rejection astigmatism contact lenses corneal dystrophy epikeratophakia keratoconus penetrating keratoplasty |
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