contact lenses; Republic of Macedonia. Correspondence:

Aim. This is an epidemiological study which shows the prevalence and demo-graphic distribution of keratoconus, and indicates the risk factors in aetiology of keratoconus in Macedonia. Material and methods. In this retrospective longitudinal 8 year study, 2.254 patients wearing contact lenses were included, out of which 68 were diagnosed with keratoconus. All newly registered keratoconus cases in the period from October 1996 until April 2004 were included. Results. The mean age value of keratoconus onset was 26.81 ± 1.25. In the gender distribution, 52.9 % (36) were female, 47.1 % (32) were male. Out of 68 patients with keratoconus, 42.6 % (29) had secondary education, and 35.2 % (24) had university degree. Fifty eight cases (84.8 %) were bilateral, 15.2 % (10) were unilateral. Conclusion. The prevalence of keratoconus in Macedonia was 6.8 patients per 100.000 citizens. The age of keratoconus onset in Macedonia was the same as in the British and French studies, and the sex ratio was the same as the in a 48 year clinical and epidemiological study in the USA. The Bilateral disease at the time of diagnosis was with a higher percentage than in other studies. Education and place of living (urban versus rural) did not appear to be a risk factor for keratoconus onset in Macedonia. OPENACCES