Keratoconus in Patients with Macular Stromal Dystrophy.

OBJECTIVE

To show the association between keratoconus and macular dystrophy.

MATERIAL AND METHOD: All patients with macular dystrophy and associated clinical findings leading to a diagnosis of keratoconus by corneal topography were retrospectively reviewed during a 10-year period. Uncorrected and best-corrected visual acuity, automated refraction, manifest refraction, corneal thickness, and corneal curvature by corneal topography were evaluated

RESULTS

Three patients with macular dystrophy exhibiting decreased vision, multifocal white dense deposits, and haze surrounding the deposits in the corneal stroma were evaluated. All had a steep corneal curvature of >47 diopters and a thin cornea consistent with keratoconus. Penetrating keratoplasty was performed in one patient with severely decreased vision. Macular dystrophy was diagnosed based on an Alcian blue-stained pathological specimen.

CONCLUSION

Keratoconus may develop as a result of changes associated with macular dystrophy. Therefore, patients with severely decreased vision should be evaluated for keratoconus to ensure proper management.