Why in news?
Researchers found that keratoconus severity before treatment is a key factor in disease progression, even after collagen cross-linking (CXL) treatment. 
 
About Keratoconus

• Keratoconus is a progressive eye condition in which the normally dome-shaped cornea thins and gradually bulges outward into a cone shape.
• This cone-shaped cornea causes irregular astigmatism and myopia, leading to distorted and blurry vision.
• The condition typically begins in the teenage years and progresses during the teens and twenties, but it can vary among individuals.
• The exact cause of keratoconus is unknown, but it is considered multifactorial, involving both genetic and environmental factors.
• Genetic predisposition is evident as family history increases risk, and certain connective tissue disorders (such as Ehlers-Danlos syndrome and osteogenesis imperfecta).
• Environmental factors include persistent eye rubbing, atopy (allergic conditions), asthma, and exposure to ultraviolet light.

Symptoms

• Blurred or distorted vision
• Increased nearsightedness and irregular astigmatism
• Light sensitivity and glare
• Difficulty with night vision
• Vision correction problems with glasses over time

Diagnosis and Treatment

• Diagnosis is primarily by clinical examination and advanced corneal imaging techniques such as corneal topography, which maps the cornea’s shape.
• Treatments are tailored to disease severity:

• Early: Glasses or soft contact lenses
• Moderate: Rigid gas-permeable or scleral lenses
• To halt progression: Corneal collagen cross-linking
• Advanced with scarring or intolerance to lenses: Corneal transplant surgery

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