Keratoconus (KC) is a progressive, non-inflammatory bilateral but (usually asymmetrical) ecstatic corneal disease, characterized by paraxial stromal thinning and weakening that leads to corneal surface distortion. The reported incidence and prevalence of KC varies widely depending upon the geographic location, diagnostic criteria used and the cohort of patients selected.

To estimate the incidence and indices of KC in patients seeking refractive procedures in Beni Sueif governorate at a span period of one year from March 2013 to March 2014. To describe and analyze the characteristics of the KC population under study.

This study as designed as a prospective surveillance study. All clinical records in the computerized database from pentacam with the clinical diagnosis of KC and / or suspected were included and statistically analyzed.

Data from 2116 cases with the average 28.8 ± 6.5 years old were analyzed over the span of 1 year starting from March 2013 to March 2014. Based on topographic images of the pentacam 36 eyes were diagnosed as KC. The incidence of KC was 1.7% ( 95% confidence interval, 0.55-1.45). In keratoconic patients, the mean age was 28.1 years, the mean K1 and K2 were 45.18±3.44 D and 49.49 ± 4.28 D respectively. The mean minimal pachymetry value was 463± 6.51um, the mean index of surface variance (ISV) was 61± 32, the mean index of vertical asymmetry (IVA) was 0.63±0.38, the mean keratoconus indices (KI) was 1.08±0.14.

This study provides the first population–based estimate of the incidence of keratoconus in Beni suef governorate in the upper Egypt. According to this study incidence rate of KC is comparable to the rate among the Caucasian people in middle Asia e.g. Iran while incidence rate is much higher among Malaysia and Kingdom of Saudi Arabia citizens.

El Sayed MOAK, Ali NH. Incidence and Indices of Keratoconus in Patients presenting for LASIK in Egypt. Int J Kerat Ect Cor Dis 2017;6(1):17-22.