Causes of keratoconus development

The exact causes of keratoconus growth as unknown. There are theories regarding the affliction’s etiology. The root cause is probably a genetic predisposition, as well as a secondary effect of other illnesses or endocrine system disorders. Research has shown that in 7% of patients, keratoconus was also present in their family history. The probability of affliction in the children of keratoconus sufferers is 1:10.

Factors causing the affliction are not entirely known. It is assumed that influential to its development are:

• Genetic predispositions (6-19 %),
• diseases – Down syndrome, Alpost syndrome, Marfan and Ehlers-Danlos syndromes, congenital visual system defects
• atopic disorders – asthma, eczema (as a complication of atopic dermatitis),
• eye disease – retinitis pigmentosa, retinopathy of prematurity, spring conjunctivitis (pink eye) and spring keratitis,
• enzyme deficiency, regulating the state of collagen fibres
• intensive rubbing of the eyes can accelerate the disease progression