Keratoconus in an African-American Population, by Robert Haak, O.D., MBA and Kenneth M. Daniel, O.D., F.A.A.O.

Title

Keratoconus in an African-American Population

Authors

Robert G. Haak, O.D., MBA, Kenneth M. Daniels, O.D., F.A.A.O.

Purpose

To describe the demographic, refractive, and disease characteristics of an African-American subgroup of keratoconic patients.

Methods

Through a retrospective study, the records of 142 African-American and Caucasian keratoconic patients were reviewed.  Demographics, visual acuity, keratometry, and slit-lamp characteristics were evaluated.

Results

In this study, the African-American group had a mean age of 39.7 ± 12 years while the Caucasian group had an average of 43.3 ± 12.7 years.  Each group had a low reported family history of keratoconus.  Both showed reduced visual acuity in spectacles and were typically fit with RGP contact lenses (75.5 percent African-American vs. 71.4 percent Caucasian), resulting in considerable improvement in vision.  Some patients wore no contact lenses, and fewer still were fit with soft lenses or combinations.  The clinical characteristics most often observed were irregular topography, irregular keratometry, corneal thinning, Fleisher’s ring, and Vogt’s striae.

Conclusion

This study finds the presentation of keratoconus in terms of demographics, clinical characteristics, and type of treatment to be similar in the African-American and Caucasian subgroups.