Subclinical keratoconus among patients visiting hilla laser unit in Iraq

Abstract EN

Background : Subclinical Keratoconus is a term used to indicate a patient with inferior or central steepening of cornea on topography where the clinician suspects that it may progress to keratoconus.

Aim of the Study : Diagnosis of sub-clinical keratoconus among myopic patients seeking for correction of their refractive errors by excimer laser, to avoid surgery for those patients and consider them at risk of developing post-operative corneal ectasia which is the most severe post-operative complication in photorefractive surgery.

Patients and methods : one thousand and two hundred myopic patients who attended laser unit / Hilla Teaching Hospital, during a 1.5 year duration, seeking for correction of their refractive errors.

Many investigations were done including visual acuity, slit lamp examination, corneal topography, keratometry and pachymetry.

Results : among those patients, 49 (4%) diagnosed as having subclinical keratoconus.

Out of these (49) cases, (27) (55%) were males and (22) (45%) were females.

Forty one (83.6%) of the patients were less than ( 25) years old.

Conclusion : sub-clinical keratoconus is one of the challenging problems facing refractive surgeons and is one of the most important and preventable causes of corneal ectasia following photorefractive surgeries.