Prevalence of Refractive Errors in Patients with Keratoconus among Sample of Iraqi Population

Background: Kerato-conus is a progressive disease of the cornea with deformed keratometry readings, characterize by progressive thinning of corneal apex and corneal ectasia. Keratoconus can affect each layer of the cornea. Keratoconus present in patients with teenage groups and early twenties with complaints of deterioration of vision and frequent change of glasses due to alteration in refractive state of them who develops different types of astigmatism, commonly myopic one. Aim of Study: The prevalence of refractive errors in patients with keratoconus to explain their clinical characteristics. Patients & Methods: This is a retrospective cross sectional research study, in which the clinical data in recorded files were reviewed, (343) eyes of (180) patients with keratoconus, among them (110) were females and (70) were males consulting Al- Najaf refractive surgery center and Al-Hakeem general hospital for correction of their refractive errors during the period between May, 2016 through February, 2017. Results: The commonest refractive error that present in all grades and age groups of the disease is compound myopic astigmatism (69.7%) followed by simple myopic astigmatism (25.4%), mixed astigmatism (3.2%) then the simple myopia (1.7%). Conclusion: The prevalence of keratoconus was higher among patients between (10 to 30) years old. Females were the dominant gender but no significant difference detected in grades of keratoconus and refractive error between genders.