Online questionnaire on knowledge and risk factors associated with keratoconus

Abstract

Purpose: The purpose of the study is to investigate the impact of body mass index on the progression of this disease and verify patients' knowledge about the disease and possible forms of treatment. Methods: A nonrandomized cross-sectional study analyzing the prevalence of risk factors and patients' knowledge of keratoconus through a Google forms questionnaire. Results: This study demonstrates that most keratoconus patients understand the severity of the disease and maintain regular follow-ups with the ophthalmologist, although many seek information through social networks. We found a correlation between the laterality of the eye with more severe keratoconus and the eye with more rubbing or sleeping with it sunk into the pillow. Conclusion: Despite having a small sample of participants, we can notice some statistical significances, such as the correlation between the eye with more severe keratoconus and the laterality of rubbing the eyes or pressing them against the pillow, suggesting a risk factor for the onset or progression of the disease. In addition, we can see that social networks have been widely used as source of information for patients about their disease.

Keywords

• allergy
• corneal disease
• information
• keratoconus
• obesity