Keratos
is a non profit organisation based in France, but
with members and delegations in Portugal,
Belgium and Norway (so far!) on ocular surface
diseases (OSD) and all types of lachrymal dysfunctions (including dry
eyes). For a better understand please read the
Targeted
Pathologies section of this website.
This
association ruled by French law, seeks to provide
information on and improve the condition of ocular surface diseases
sufferers and the challegences they face.
The
association is not
intended to replace a medical advice nor modify a
treatment's course. However, it seeks to increase
awareness on the consequences of these diseases,
provide advices and useful contacts to help patients and their families
to facilitate a better medical and social care. Our goal is to increase
the exchange of information on therapeutic trials and research on this
subject. We collect information on ocular surface research and regularly
defend the social and therapeutic cause of ocular surface disease
sufferers.
Keratos in involved
in the advocacy in favour of ocular surface sufferers including the
recognition that these diseases (in severe cases) may lead to serious
disabilities. Thus, we are invoved in several actions destined to
inscrease the awareness among social, medical and other
institutions and even the general public regarding ocular surface
disease specific challenges and needs. For more information on this
subject please read the
Invisible Disabilities
chapter.
Both at the medical
and social level, the care provided to OSD
is insufficient (partiuclarly for
the severe cases). If the seriousness of neurotrophic and dystrophic
corneas has never been called in question
and is now well recognised, it also evident that the
impact on the quality of life and vision, of the "simpliest"
dry state is often clearly underevaluated.
Obviously, there are various degrees of gravity, but the
impact of OSD is generally underrated. Some epidemiological and quality
of life studies (clearly at their embryonic stage for the time being)
clearly demonstrate that the impact of OSD on the daily life activities
(including professional ones) is huge.
For
additional or specific information on our objectives please read our
following chapters on
Actions & Projects,
Areas of Interest.
|
Our History
Keratos
is born from the realisation that there weren't any association on
all types of lachrymal dysfunctions and deficient corneal healing no
matter what their etiologies are. We were then a group of
lachyrmal dysfucntion sufferers who did not pertain to the usual
categories and who did not find any support from the existant
associations, probably because we were concerned by waht was
consdiered then as rare orphan pathologies or underdiagnosed forms
of dry eye (for instance, rosacea or LASIK-induced dryness).
It was period, though not that long ago, were the ignorance
regarding lachrymal dysfuctions seemed to be the rule. There was no
information whatsoever, on dry eye state related to neurotrophic
corneas, graft-vs-host disease, certain dystrophies, LASIK, hormonal
changes, rosacea and other iatrogenic causes such as long term
preservative use just to mention a few!
Faced
with the double ascertainment of a myriad of orphan diseases both in
terms of support group and medical and social care and the fact that
these orphan diseases and syndromes have in commun the same
therapeutic and socioprofessional challenges, we decided to create
Keratos. Our legal existence dates from January 2005 but our de
facto existence dates back to 2003.
Since the beginning we have gathered information on the research for
all types of lachrymal dysfunctions, corneal wound healing and
re-innervation and the re-estabishment of the ocular surface at the
international and european level.
Our goal
is to gather all OSD sufferers, suffering from lachrymal
dysfucntions or Dysfucntional Tear Syndromes and healing
issues in a collective entreprise beyond the borders of France and
our medical services and our specific etiology. Thus, Keratos
gathers information from our correspondents in several countries
regarding OSD research and developpements. Keratos is also involved
in reimbursement issues related to eye drops, scleral lenses and
more generally the medical and socioprofessional care of all OSDs. |
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copyright ©
Keratos 2005-2007
