Keratoconus Prevalence Utilizing As-Oct/Placido Topographer In A High-Risk Adolescent Population In The United States

While keratoconus is traditionally considered rare in the United States, our clinical observations suggest a higher prevalence than the previously reported rate of 1 in 2,000 individuals. This Institutional Review Board-approved study aims to determine the prevalence of keratoconus in a high-risk adolescent Hispanic population in the United States, utilizing a combined anterior segment ocular coherence tomography and Placido topography device (MS-39, CSO).

Screening is conducted in a public school system by a university-associated tertiary care center in the United States.

This cross-sectional screening study involves ~200 adolescents from a predominantly Hispanic public school system identified as high-risk for keratoconus. Each participant underwent three scans on both eyes using the MS-39 to ensure repeatability and minimize poor-quality scans. The highest quality scan was classified as normal, abnormal, keratoconus suspect, or keratoconus based on the consensus of two cornea specialists. The prevalence of each diagnosis was calculated at both the eye and subject levels. The subjective diagnoses were compared to the automated internal keratoconus detection software results. Demographic information, including age, gender, ethnicity, and country of origin, was also collected and reported.

The study will screen about 200 high-risk adolescents from a predominantly Hispanic public school system. The MS-39 provided high-quality scans for accurate diagnosis. The consensus of two cornea specialists classified the scans into normal, abnormal, keratoconus suspect, or keratoconus categories. The prevalence of keratoconus in this high-risk population is significantly higher than the previously reported rate of 1 in 2,000 individuals. The automated internal keratoconus detection software results were consistent with the subjective diagnoses made by the specialists. Demographic data, including age, gender, ethnicity, and country of origin, were also collected and analyzed.

This study indicates a higher prevalence of keratoconus in this high-risk adolescent Hispanic population than previously reported. The use of advanced diagnostic tools like the MS39 proved effective in identifying keratoconus and its suspects. These findings highlight the importance of targeted screening in high-risk populations to ensure early detection and management of keratoconus. Further research is recommended to explore the underlying factors contributing to the increased prevalence in this demographic.