Abstract:Keratoconus is a progressive, non-inflammatory corneal thinning disorder that produces a unique spectrum of change in the surface curvature of the cornea. The suspected factors associated with the cause of keratoconus include genetic mechanisms, familial associations, allergy, atopy and so on, but environmental factors, such as abnormal rubbing, contact lens wearing and ultraviolet radiation may be easily ignored. Although it is commonly thought that keratoconus is a result of various pathological progress mediated by multiple factors, those chronic trauma could play important roles in the pathological progress. The classic definition of keratoconus is still referred as a non-inflammation disorder with malnutrition of keratectasia, more and more clinical evidences and experimental results that may refute this concept. It may be due to the long-term persistent chronic trauma resulted from eye rubbing, contact lens or ultraviolet radiation. Under this conditions, the increased release of inflammatory mediators and matrix metalloproteinases may accelerate keratocyte apoposis and enzyme metabolism disorders, with the result of matrix cell lost, tensile strength decreased and keratectasia. Here, for some papers known about the relationship between chronic cornea trauma and keratoconus were reviewed and discussed its possible causal relationship.
