5 Key Takeaways

• 1

  Keratoconus is more prevalent in children than previously thought, with a rate of 1 in 251 among ages 3 to 18.

• 2

  The study found that keratoconus plus suspected cases occur in 1 in 72 children, significantly higher than earlier estimates.

• 3

  Early onset keratoconus leads to faster progression and a higher risk of corneal transplant rejection.

• 4

  Traditional diagnostic methods often miss subclinical keratoconus cases, highlighting the need for advanced screening.

• 5

  Routine corneal tomography in pediatric exams is crucial for early detection and timely intervention to prevent vision loss.