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Published on: November 12, 2015
Pediatric keratoconus: a review of the literature
Sabrina Mukhtar1, Balamurali K Ambati2
1School of Medicine, Virginia Commonwealth University, 1201 E. Marshall St., 4th Floor, Richmond, VA, 232983, USA. mukhtars@vcu.edu.
Insights
Pediatric keratoconus progresses more aggressively than adult keratoconus, with current treatments showing higher failure rates in children. Further research is needed to improve therapeutic outcomes for pediatric keratoconus.
Area of Science:
- Ophthalmology
- Corneal Diseases
- Pediatric Eye Care
Background:
- Keratoconus is a progressive corneal ectasia.
- Pediatric keratoconus presents unique challenges compared to adult forms.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the epidemiology and prevalence of pediatric keratoconus.
- To compare disease progression and therapeutic outcomes between pediatric and adult keratoconus.
- To explore current treatment strategies for pediatric keratoconus.
Main Methods:
- Comprehensive literature search on PubMed.
- Keywords included pediatric keratoconus, adult keratoconus, and various surgical interventions.
- Review and synthesis of epidemiological and clinical data.
Main Results:
- Pediatric keratoconus demonstrates more aggressive progression, potentially due to corneal structural differences.
- Higher rates of treatment failure and disease progression are observed in pediatric patients compared to adults.
- Standard therapies like corneal cross-linking, intracorneal ring segments, and penetrating keratoplasty show reduced efficacy in children.
Conclusions:
- Pediatric keratoconus is a more aggressive condition than in adults.
- Current therapeutic approaches effective in adults may be insufficient for pediatric keratoconus.
- There is a critical need for specialized treatment strategies for pediatric keratoconus.
Purpose:
To describe the epidemiology and prevalence, rates of progression, difference between adult and pediatric populations, and therapeutic approaches to pediatric keratoconus from documented literature.
Methods:
A literature search was done on PubMed using key words including pediatric keratoconus, children with keratoconus, adult keratoconus, penetrating keratoplasty, corneal cross-linking and intracorneal ring segments. The literature was reviewed and reported to explore the key epidemiological differences between the pediatric and adult population with regards to presentation and treatment options.
Results:
Pediatric keratoconus is more aggressive than adult keratoconus, which has been explained by structural differences in the cornea between both populations. High rates of progression were documented in pediatric populations. While corneal collagen cross-linking, intracorneal ring segments and penetrating keratoplasties have been used as therapies in the pediatric population, the literature overwhelmingly shows higher rates of failure and progression despite these measures as compared to adults.
Conclusion:
Pediatric keratoconus is more aggressive than adult keratoconus, and current therapies used in adults may not be sufficient for the pediatric population.
