The Possible Role of Thyroxine in Keratoconus Development
The Possible Role of Thyroxine in Keratoconus Development
Keratoconus (KC) is a corneal ectatic disorders, with incidence rate 1 per 50,000 among the
 population. Hormonal imbalances may be associated with KC as it affects the corneal
 metabolism. In this study, we aim to examine this clinical association between thyroid gland
 dysfunction (TGD) and KC.
Keratoconus (KC) is a corneal ectatic disorders, with incidence rate 1 per 50,000 among the
 population. Moreover, the pathophysiological processes underlying KC have not been fully
 elucidated with proposed mechanisms to include proteolytic degradation in the corneal stroma,
 oxidative damage, epithelial mechanical injury, immunological factors, and genetic factors.
 However, Hormonal imbalances may be associated with KC as it affects the corneal metabolism.
 Furthermore, thyroid gland dysfunction (TGD) can frequently associated with eye diseases such
 as Graves disease. Previous studies investigated the association between TGD and KC.
 Interestingly, thyroxine (T4) is important for corneal dehydration and transparency during
 embryonic development and regulates the synthesis of keratin sulfate proteoglycan in the
 chicken. T4 receptors (T4Rs) have been found in the lacrimal gland, confirming that the tear
 producing gland is a target organ of T4. T4 level was elevated in the tears of patients with
 KC. Hence, in this study, we aim to investigate the clinical association between TGD and KC.
Inclusion Criteria:

 -  Patients with KC.

 Exclusion Criteria:

 -  Patients who cannot give an informed consent.

 -  Patients who cannot provide needed samples for any reason