Background: Keratoconus is a degenerative, non-inflammatory condition
causing corneal protrusion and thinning, which causes axial protrusion of the
cornea and stromal thinning, eventually making the corneal conical. The study
aimed to determine the prevalence of keratoconus according to geographical
distribution in the Assiut governorate and identify possible risk factors (1).
Methods: The research involved a cross-sectional study to estimate Keratoconus
prevalence in Assiut governorate centers, followed by a case-control study to
identify correlations and risk factors of Keratoconus in three refractive surgery
centers in Assiut from January to June 2021.
Results: 174 patients (10.7%) in our study of 1631 patients in Assiut were
diagnosed with Keratoconus; El-Fath (15.6%), Assiut City (14.5%), and Sedfa
(13.7%) had the highest prevalence rates.
Conclusion: Keratoconus, a prevalent condition common among adolescents, is
linked to positive consanguinity and ocular allergy, with compound myopic
astigmatism being the most common refractive error.