Evaluation Of Keratoconus Prevalence And Corneal Topographic Alterations Following The 2023 Türkiye Earthquake
Published 2025 - 43rd Congress of the ESCRS
Reference: PO560 | Type: Free paper | DOI: 10.82333/g5nb-vx75
Authors: Avinoam Shye* 1 , Aya Wattad 1 , Igor Kaiserman 2 , Gur Munzer 3 , Tzachi Sela 3 , Michael Mimouni 4 , Eyal Cohen 5
1Ophthalmology,Tel Aviv Sourasky Medical Center,Tel Aviv,Israel, 2Ophthalmology,Barzilai Medical Center,Ashkelon,Israel;Care-Vision Laser Center,Tel Aviv,Israel;Faculty of Health Sciences,Ben-Gurion University of the Negev,Beer Sheba,Israel, 3Care-Vision Laser Center,Tel Aviv,Israel, 4Ophthalmology,Rambam Health Care Campus,Haifa,Israel;Ruth and Bruce Rappaport Faculty of Medicine,Technion - Israel Institute of Technology,Haifa,Israel, 5Ophthalmology,Tel Aviv Sourasky Medical Center,Tel Aviv,Israel;Care-Vision Laser Center,Tel Aviv,Israel;Faculty of Medicine,Tel Aviv University,Tel Aviv,Israel
Purpose
This study aimed to evaluate the effects of the 2023 Turkey earthquake on the prevalence of keratoconus and corneal topographic parameters, with a focus on identifying potential associations between earthquake-induced environmental/psychological stressors and changes in keratoconus presentation.
Setting
Retrospective analysis - a single center, Necip Fazıl City Hospital, Kahramanmaraş, Turkey
Methods
This retrospective comparative study was conducted at a single center in Kahramanmaraş, Turkey, focusing on patients examined during pre-earthquake (June–August 2022) and post-earthquake (June–August 2023) periods. A total of 200 eyes from 100 patients in each period were included after applying strict inclusion and exclusion criteria. All participants underwent comprehensive ophthalmological examinations and topographic evaluations using the Pentacam HR device, with measurements obtained by the same technician and interpreted by consistent medical experts using the Amsler-Krumeich classification for keratoconus staging.
Results
Although the overall increase in keratoconus prevalence—from 14.0% (n=28) pre-earthquake to 21.0% (n=42) post-earthquake—did not reach statistical significance (p>0.05), significant changes were observed in corneal asymmetry indices. Specifically, the Keratoconus Index (KI) increased with a p-value of 0.03, the Index of Height Decentration (IHD) with p=0.02, the Central Keratoconus Index (CKI) with p=0.01, and the difference between Kmax and K2 also showed significance (p=0.04).
Conclusions
The findings indicate that, following the 2023 Turkey earthquake, there is a trend toward increased keratoconus prevalence coupled with significant alterations in corneal asymmetry measures. These results support the hypothesis that earthquake-related environmental and psychological factors may influence the progression of keratoconus, underscoring the need for further multicenter, long-term studies to clarify these associations and underlying mechanisms.