Patterns in refractive error and treatment delay in keratoconus-An Australian study

• Published in: PloS one Vol. 19; no. 1; p. e0297268
• Main Authors: Bobba, Samantha, Wood, Alanna, Males, John, Kerdraon, Yves
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Public Library of Science 11.01.2024; Public Library of Science (PLoS)
• Subjects: Access to information; Acuity; Astigmatism; Asymptomatic; Australia - epidemiology; Biology and Life Sciences; Care and treatment; Collagen; Comorbidity; Cornea; Corneal Topography; Cross-linking; Cross-Linking Reagents - therapeutic use; Crosslinking; Data collection; Development and progression; Diagnosis; Ethics; Eye; Eye surgery; Humans; Keratoconus; Keratoconus - diagnosis; Keratoconus - epidemiology; Keratoconus - therapy; Medical diagnosis; Medical personnel; Medical screening; Medicine and Health Sciences; Morbidity; Neural networks; Optometrists; Optometry; Parameter identification; Patients; Photosensitizing Agents - therapeutic use; Refractive errors; Refractive Errors - drug therapy; Refractive Errors - therapy; Research and Analysis Methods; Riboflavin - therapeutic use; Social Sciences; Systemic diseases; Tomography; Treatment Delay; Ultraviolet Rays; Visual acuity; Australia; New Zealand; New South Wales Australia
• ISSN: 1932-6203; 1932-6203
• DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0297268

Keratoconus is the most common primary corneal ectasia and is associated with significant morbidity. In its early stages, keratoconus is often asymptomatic, making the identification of subclinical disease challenging. Refractive error is a parameter that is documented at most routine optometry visits, yet interestingly, changes in refraction of keratoconic patients over time have not yet been studied and compared with the general population. Early diagnosis of keratoconus facilitates timely referral for treatments such as corneal collagen cross-linking, which has been shown to slow disease progression. In this context, documenting delays between initial presentation to the optometrist and referral for collagen-cross-linking as well as comparing the trends in visual acuity and refractive error between keratoconic and non-keratoconic patients over time are particularly relevant.