Where have all the keratoconic patients gone?

Abstract

Clinicians commonly comment that few keratoconic patients >60 years of age are followed. We hypothesize that this observation occurs because keratoconics present less frequently for contact lens care with age. Charts of 106 keratoconic patients followed in one contact lens practice for at least 24 months during a 33-month period were reviewed retrospectively. The number of professional evaluations and ages of keratoconic patients during their second year of care were considered and compared to a nonkeratoconic control group. Keratoconic and nonkeratoconics both show normal age distributions that decline after 60 years of age. Keratoconics were found to be slightly older and presented for significantly more professional care compared to non-keratoconic patients in the second year of care. Fewer keratoconics and nonkeratoconics present for contact lens care after 60 years of age. Keratoconics present for contact lens care longer than do nonkeratoconics.