Study finds nearly half of pediatric patients with keratoconus require surgery within 10 years

Pediatric keratoconus (PKC) is a relatively rare condition, with an incidence of 2.48 cases per 100,000 people per year, according to a study that found that nearly half of the patients diagnosed with PKC require corneal surgery within 10 years of diagnosis, indicating a significant risk of surgical intervention in these young patients.

Researchers reviewed medical records of patients under 19 years of age diagnosed with keratoconus from 1975 to 2019, and those treated at a single institution from 2001 to 2020.

The incidence of PKC over the 45 years was found to be 2.48 cases per 100,000 people per year. The average age of diagnosis was 15.25 years, with 77.8% of cases occurring in males. Of the 71 patients treated at the institution, 46% underwent at least one corneal procedure. The study found a 60% chance of requiring corneal surgery within 10 years of diagnosis.

Reference
Farazdaghi MK, Bothun ED, Tran M, et al. Incidence and presenting clinical features of pediatric keratoconus in a US population. J AAPOS. 2024;104003. doi: 10.1016/j.jaapos.2024.104003. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 39278529.