Epidemiologic and Genetic Studies of Keratoconus Patients in Korea

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: To report the characteristics and genetic epidemiology of keratoconus patients in the Korean population based on questionnaires, ophthalmologic findings, and genetic studies. METHODS: From September 2007 through August 2009, an epidemiologic investigation was performed through questionnaires and ocular examination of 190 keratoconus patients. To investigate the genetic cause, blood samples were taken from the keratoconus patients. Genetic analysis of keratoconus was performed through the analysis of sensitive candidate genes. RESULTS: The mean age of the study subjects was 29.6 years. Seventy-seven percent of the subjects rubbed their eyes with 17 percent suffering from atopy, allergy, and asthma. Thirty-two percent of subjects demonstrated Vogt's striae as the most frequent biomicroscopic keratoconus finding. No family history was found. Genetic analysis showed sensitive genetic variations of VSX1, LUM, and IL1B. CONCLUSIONS: Epidemiology of Korean keratoconus patients was investigated through research and genetic study resulting in discovery of sensitive genes.