Keratoconus in India: Clinical presentation and demographic distribution based on big data analytics

Area of Science:

• Ophthalmology
• Corneal Diseases
• Public Health

Background:

• Keratoconus (KCN) is a progressive corneal ectatic disorder.
• Understanding its clinical presentation and demographics in India is crucial for patient care and resource allocation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To describe the clinical presentation and demographic distribution of keratoconus in India.
• To analyze electronic medical records (EMR) from a large, multi-tier hospital network.

Main Methods:

• Cross-sectional study analyzing EMR data from 2,384,523 patients (January 2012 - March 2020).
• Included patients with a clinical diagnosis of KCN in at least one eye.
• Univariate and multiple logistic regression analyses were performed.

Main Results:

• 14,749 patients (0.62%) with 27,703 eyes diagnosed with KCN.
• Median age was 22 years; 76.64% were adults. Predominantly affected males (61.25%) and presented bilaterally (87.83%).
• Common corneal signs included ectasia, Fleischer ring, and prominent nerves. Only 10.23% of eyes required surgery, most commonly collagen cross-linking.

Conclusions:

• Keratoconus in India typically affects young males, often bilaterally.
• The condition commonly presents in the second and third decades of life.
• Surgical treatment is infrequent, with collagen cross-linking being the primary intervention.