Clinical detection of unilateral keratoconus.
OBJECTIVE
To determine the incidence of true unilateral keratoconus on the basis of computerised corneal topography in a group with clinically diagnosed unilateral keratoconus.


METHODS
Retrospective review of 295 patients with keratoconus identified 51 patients with a provisional diagnosis of unilateral keratoconus. Thirty-one of these patients were re-examined clinically and 21 patients met the criteria for a clinical diagnosis of unilateral keratoconus. Computerised corneal topographic analysis (Tomey TMS) was then performed.


RESULTS
In a group of 21 patients with clinically diagnosed unilateral keratoconus, computerised corneal topographic analysis identified 14 (67%) patients with bilateral keratoconus and seven (33%) patients with true unilateral keratoconus. Contact lens wear had no significant influence (P=0.76) on the topographical diagnosis of keratoconus in the clinically unaffected fellow eye. The estimated incidence of true unilateral keratoconus in the cohort of 295 patients was 4%.


CONCLUSIONS
Computerised corneal topography improves sensitivity in detection of true unilateral keratoconus.
Lee
L R
LR
Department of Surgery, Princess Alexandra Hospital, Woolloongabba, Qld.
Hirst
L W
LW
Readshaw
G
G
D000328:Adult; D003261:Contact Lenses; D003315:Cornea / Q000473:pathology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted; D015994:Incidence; D007640:Keratoconus / Q000175:diagnosis*; D008297:Male; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity