Keratoconus

Important
It is possible that the main title of the report Keratoconus is not the name you expected. Please check the synonyms listing to find the alternate name(s) and disorder subdivision(s) covered by this report.

Synonyms

Conical Cornea
KC

Disorder Subdivisions

None

General Discussion

Keratoconus is a non-inflammatory eye (ocular) condition characterized by progressive changes of the shape of the cornea. The cornea is the thin-walled, "dome-shaped" transparent region forming the front of the eyeball; it serves as a protective covering and helps to focus or bend (refract) light waves onto the retina at the back of the eye. In those with Keratoconus, slowly progressive thinning of the cornea causes it to protrude forward in a conical shape, leading to blurry vision and other vision problems. Keratoconus often begins at puberty. Although the specific underlying cause of the condition is unknown, investigators indicate that genetic factors may play some role. In addition, in some cases, Keratoconus may occur in association with a variety of other disorders.
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Resources

National Association for Visually Handicapped
22 West 21st Street
New York, NY 10010
USA
Tel: 2128893141
Fax: 2127272931
Email: staff@navh.org
Internet: http://www.navh.org

Eye Bank Association of America
1015 18th Street, NW
Suite 1010
Washington, DC 20036
Tel: (202)775-4999
Fax: (202)429-6036
Email: info@restoresite.org
Internet: http://www.restoresight.org

NIH/National Eye Institute
Building 31 Rm 6A32
31 Center Dr MSC 2510
Bethesda, MD 20892-2510
United States
Tel: 3014965248
Fax: 3014021065
Email: 2020@nei.nih.gov
Internet: http://www.nei.nih.gov/

National Keratoconus Foundation
8733 Beverly Blvd
Suite 201
Los Angeles, CA 90048
Tel: (310)423-6455
Fax: (310)423-0163
Tel: (800)521-2524
Email: info@nkcf.org
Internet: http://www.nkcf.org

National Keratoconus Assistance Foundation
203 Argonna Ave
Suite B4444
Long Beach, CA 90803
USA
Email: info@nkcaf.com
Internet: http://www.nkcaf.org

Cornea Research Foundation of America
9002 North Meridian Street
Ste. 212
Indianapolis, IN 46260
Tel: (317)844-5610
Fax: (317)814-2806
Tel: (800)317-3937
Email: elainevoci@cornea.org
Internet: http://www.cornea.org

For a Complete Report

This is an abstract of a report from the National Organization for Rare Disorders, Inc. ® (NORD). A copy of the complete report can be obtained for a small fee by visiting the NORD website. The complete report contains additional information including symptoms, causes, affected population, related disorders, standard and investigational treatments (if available), and references from medical literature. For a full-text version of this topic, see http://www.rarediseases.org/search/rdblist.html

The information provided in this report is not intended for diagnostic purposes. It is provided for informational purposes only. NORD recommends that affected individuals seek the advice or counsel of their own personal physicians.
It is possible that the title of this topic is not the name you selected. Please check the Synonyms listing to find the alternate name(s) and Disorder Subdivision(s) covered by this report.
This disease entry is based upon medical information available through the date at the end of the topic. Since NORD's resources are limited, it is not possible to keep every entry in the Rare Disease Database completely current and accurate. Please check with the agencies listed in the Resources section for the most current information about this disorder.
For additional information and assistance about rare disorders, please contact the National Organization for Rare Disorders at P.O. Box 1968, Danbury, CT 06813-1968; phone (203) 744-0100; web site www.rarediseases.org or email orphan@rarediseases.org
Last Updated: 5/24/2008
Copyright 1988, 1989, 2001, 2002 National Organization for Rare Disorders, Inc.

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