ESCRS - POCOR386 - Tomographic Screening Reveals Distinct Corneal Morphological Characteristics Of Keratoconus In Patients With Down Syndrome

Tomographic Screening Reveals Distinct Corneal Morphological Characteristics Of Keratoconus In Patients With Down Syndrome

Published 2026 - 44th Congress of the ESCRS

Reference: POCOR386 | Type: Free paper | DOI: 10.82333/9p9k-2t95

Authors: Dr Karla Ranđelović* 1 , Freja Bagatin 1 , Ivana Barbić Radman 1 , Zoran Vatavuk 1 , Josipa Marin Lovrić 2 , Nikki Hafezi 3 , Farhad Hafezi 3 , Ivanka Petric Vicković 1

1UHC Sisters of Mercy,Zagreb,Croatia, 2UHC Split,Split,Croatia, 3ELZA Institute,Zurich,Switzerland

Purpose

To determine the prevalence of keratoconus in a Croatian population with Down syndrome and to evaluate corneal tomographic characteristics in affected patients.

Setting

Screening initiative “Light for Sight 21”, Zadar, Croatia.

Methods

In total 47 patients, mean age 18.64± 10.49 with Down syndrome were screened for presence of keratoconus, out of which 6 was excluded from the study due to in-cooperability. Topographical screening was performed in October 2023, in Zadar, Croatia, as part of „Light for Sight 21“ screening initiative. In all patients visual refraction was measured using autorefractor keratometer (Nikon Righton Speedy-K, Badhoevedorp, Netherlands) and corneal morphological measures using rotational Scheimpflug tomography (WaveLight Occulyzer II, Alcon Laboratories Inc., Ft Worth, Texas, USA).

Results

Out of 41 patients with Down syndrome, 7 (28.57% male, 71.43% female) were screened positive for presence of keratoconus. Autorefractor revealed visual refraction in keratoconus group -2.575±2.20 cylinder, while patients with Down syndrome and no keratoconus had -1.66± 1.6 cylinder. Corneal topography in patients with Down syndrome and keratoconus showed keratometry of flat meridian 47.83±6.03D, and keratometry of steep meridian 49.89±6.73D, while central corneal thickness was 483.57±45.73µm.

Conclusions

The main finding of this study is that observed population had a specific cornea topography pattern characterized by increased K2, while autorefractometry revealed no significant difference between the groups. Such finding can be explained by specific ethnical population, genetic variance or mosaicism that may be present in Down syndrome patients. In future, more precise corneal topography and genetic analyses would help us to define ideal therapeutic strategy for this patients.