title: Characteristics of Keratoconic Patients Attending a Specialist Contact Lens Clinic in Kenya.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To describe the characteristics of keratoconus (KC) patients seen in a contact lens clinic of a children's hospital in Kenya.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 254 patients' records were analyzed. Mean age at presentation to the clinic was 20.97 ± 11.13 year (range, 6-84 years) with 75% between the ages of 6 and 25 years. There was a preponderance of males (59.8%). Most patients were referred by an ophthalmologist. All patients were Africans. The most common complaints were blurred vision (50%), poor visual acuity with spectacles (33.5%), contact lens intolerance (11.8%), and other (unspecified). Most cases were severe (71%) followed by moderate (22.9%) and mild (6.2%). Mean BCVA was 0.24 ± 0.23 (6/11). An optical correction was provided in 98% of cases; 34.6% with spectacles, 31.1% with gas permeable lenses and the remaining with both. Referral for keratoplasty was warranted in 16.5%.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This is the first study of KC conducted in Kenya. KC presented at a very early age and tended to be severe. Ophthalmologists were the main source of referral. The main presenting symptom was reduced vision. Optical correction was the most common management and the percentage of patients referred for surgery concurred with other studies.
authors.affiliation: Muthaiga Eye Clinic, Nairobi, Kenya.
authors.forename: Zahra Aly
authors.initials: ZA
authors.lastname: Rashid
authors.affiliation: School of Optometry, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hung Hom, Hong Kong; School of Optometry and Vision Sciences, Cardiff University, Cardiff, UK.
authors.forename: Michel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Millodot
authors.affiliation: School of Optometry and Vision Sciences, Cardiff University, Cardiff, UK.
authors.forename: Katharine S E
authors.initials: KS
authors.lastname: Evans
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002648:Child; D003261:Contact Lenses; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007630:Kenya; D007640:Keratoconus / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012017:Referral and Consultation; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013038:Specialization; D014786:Vision Disorders / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D014792:Visual Acuity / Q000502:physiology; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Africa; contact lenses; keratoconus; keratoplasty