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International Ophthalmology
Published in: International Ophthalmology 1/2024

01-12-2024 | Review

Pediatric keratoconus epidemiology: a systematic scoping review

Authors: Lucca Ortolan Hansen, Renato Garcia, Fernando Betty Cresta, André Augusto Miranda Torricelli, Samir Jacob Bechara

Published in: International Ophthalmology | Issue 1/2024

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Abstract

Background

Pediatric keratoconus (pediatric KC) causes progressive deformation of the cornea in children and adolescents, leading to a gradual loss of vision and a need for rehabilitation. However, new treatments may halt the disease and prevent worse outcomes that require penetrating keratoplasty and its associated morbidity and high cost, irreversible loss of vision, and amblyopia. Few systematic reviews focus on keratoconus—and even fewer, on pediatric KC.

Methods

Here, we report a systematic scoping review of pediatric KC epidemiology and discuss the studies reporting data on pediatric KC. We used PRISMA-ScR methodology and checklists in the elaboration of the manuscript. The inclusion criteria were: English language; publication between August 7, 1998, and August 7, 2019 (20 years); theme of the study pediatric KC epidemiology. The search strategy: searches of the PubMed-MEDLINE database and Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, using eight combinations of the following MeSH terms: keratoconus; child; incidence; prevalence; pediatrics; adolescent; epidemiology.

Results

We charted and reviewed the selected articles. Initial searches included 1802 records; after the exclusion of article duplicates, we screened 777 records, read 97 articles in full text, and included 76 articles in this review.

Conclusions

Recent epidemiological studies with better methodologies demonstrated increased prevalence rates in comparison to the older literature. This effect may be due to better diagnostic methods and better sample selection than those in historical studies. Diagnosis remains a major challenge as the early disease is usually asymptomatic. Economic and social aspects of pediatric KC remain understudied in the pediatric literature. Global, inclusive, and proactive screening studies in schools are imperative to better understand the great impact of this disease in the young.
Appendix
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Metadata
Title
Pediatric keratoconus epidemiology: a systematic scoping review
Authors
Lucca Ortolan Hansen
Renato Garcia
Fernando Betty Cresta
André Augusto Miranda Torricelli
Samir Jacob Bechara
Publication date
01-12-2024
Publisher
Springer Netherlands
Published in
International Ophthalmology / Issue 1/2024
Print ISSN: 0165-5701
Electronic ISSN: 1573-2630
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/s10792-024-03010-2

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