Excessive eye rubbing or atopic eye disease might induce keratoconus by inducing epithelial damage. Epithelial stress can lead to increased keratocyte apoptosis through an interleukin-1 dependant mechanism and can cause changes in stromal matrix

Chaithanya Eye Hospital & Research Institute, Kesavadasapuram, Trivandrum – 695004, E-mail: [email protected] Introduction: Keratoconus is a non-inflammatory ectatic corneal disorder of uncertain etiology which is usually bilateral and progressive. Progressive corneal thinning results in irregular astigmatism, myopia and later, conical protrusion of cornea when it is evident on clinical examination.