Keratoconus: Pathogenesis and Clinical Findings Genetics • Family history of keratoconus • Ehlers-Danlos syndrome • Down, Turner, Marfan syndromes • Osteogenesis Imperfecta • Lebed's congenital amaurosis • Vernal keratoconjunctivitis • Retinitis Pigmentosa Biochemical Factors • Incr Proteolytic enzymes • Decr Protease inhibitors • Incr Pro-inflammatory markers (IL-5 ICAM-I, VCAM-I) • Decr Anti-inflammatorymarkers (IL-I O) • Decr Stromal keratocytes • Changes in collagen types XIII, XV, and XVIII Biomechanical Factors • Contact lens use • Eye rubbing • Atopic diseases • UV radiation -> Bilateral, asymmetric corneal thinning, degeneration, and cone-shaped protrusion => Keratoconus Signs / Symptoms / Complications: • Fleischer's Ring • Munson's sign • Rizutti's Sign • Corneal Opacities -> Vision loss • Vogt's Striae • Sudden Vision Loss and pain with severe KC -> Stromal scarring #Keratoconus #pathophysiology #ophthalmology
