title: Keratoconus. Evaluation of recent trends in the surgical and nonsurgical correction of keratoconus.
abstract: Recent focus on the optical correction for "contact lens failure" keratoconus patients has been in the use of epikeratoplasty as an alternative to penetrating keratoplasty. In a 2-year retrospective review of keratoconus patients, 33 were referred as "contact lens failures" and as such might be considered candidates for surgical intervention. Of these, 29 patients (average keratometry, 50.4; range, 43-73) were successfully refitted with contact lenses. All patients obtained wearing times of 12 hours and achieved a visual acuity of 20/40 or better, with 85% realizing 20/30 or better. The data suggest that with concerted effort most keratoconus patients may be successfully refitted despite initial contact lens failure.
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001251:Astigmatism / Q000150:complications; D003261:Contact Lenses; D003315:Cornea / Q000473:pathology; D016039:Corneal Transplantation; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007640:Keratoconus / Q000601:surgery* / Q000628:therapy; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies