Characterization of keratoconus at Dr. Emigdio Navia Ophthalmology Center, Portoviejo - Ecuador, during 2018-2019

Abstract

Introduction: Keratoconus has a prevalence of 54.5 per 100,000 people, this figure varies by geographic location. Keratoconus is a corneal alteration that produces significant distortions in vision. There are no data on the presence of this disease at a local level, nor are there studies that indicate the population characteristics of the people who suffer from it. Objectives: To determine the characteristics of patients with keratoconus at the Dr. Emigdio Navia Ophthalmologic Center in the Portoviejo´s city. Methodology: Descriptive-retrospective study, using as an instrument the collection of data in corneal topographies and clinical histories of patients treated at the center. Results: A population of 4527 patients was analyzed during 2018 and 2019. In 2018, only 5 patients with a keratoconus´ diagnosis were identified, 4 were male and 1 female, between 10-75 years old; in 2019, 7 patients showed a keratoconus´ diagnosis, 5 male and 2 female, between 5-39 years old. Patients with a diagnosis of keratoconus, showed one of the most common pathologies´s symptoms referred, blurred vision. In 2018, the keratometric K values are very close to each other (CV<10) for all patients, indicating that mostly these patients have approximately the same disease progression. While, in 2019, these values show a CV>10%, which allows suggesting that keratoconus come from different sources and possess different stages. Conclusions: According to the literature, the degree of keratoconus in patients diagnosed in 2018 correspond to stages 1, 2 and 3, while, in 2019, according to keratometric data, patients with keratoconus up to stage 4 are observed.