Keratoconus, a degenerative disease that often strikes in puberty and causes a bulging of the cornea, is treated during early stages with eyeglasses, in later stages with hard contact lenses and eventually, in many cases, with corneal transplants. Early clinical results reported at major international medical meetings have been encouraging, although limited and preliminary. First four CRS clinical study sites named The initial keratoconus feasibility study will be conducted at four CRS-affiliated clinical sites. Keratoconus Key Facts Keratoconus may affect as many as one in 1,000 Americans, or approximately 272,000 people, according to some experts' estimates. The disease causes thinning and bulging of the cornea, creating unstable and poor vision and eventually, in severe cases, blindness.
Keratoconus frequently appears during puberty.
The rate of progression and severity varies, but patients may not experience full affects for a decade or more. The disease is known to affect all ethnic groups and genders although it has been determined to show a slight female preponderance. The actual cause of keratoconus is not fully understood. Theories attribute the disease to genetics, to a degenerative condition, and to various medical disorders. Early symptoms of keratoconus include blurring and distortion of vision, glare, light sensitivity and irritation.