Keratoconus: imaging modalities and management

Area of Science:

• Ophthalmology
• Corneal Diseases
• Vision Science

Background:

• Keratoconus (KCN) is a progressive corneal disease causing thinning and steepening, leading to vision impairment.
• Early detection is critical for managing KCN and preventing severe vision loss.
• This review details recent advancements in KCN diagnosis and treatment.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review current advancements in the diagnosis and treatment of keratoconus (KCN).
• To highlight evolving strategies and emerging techniques for KCN management.
• To synthesize recent literature on KCN screening, progression, and visual rehabilitation.

Main Methods:

• A narrative review approach was employed.
• Literature search conducted on PubMed/MEDLINE and Google Scholar.
• Keywords included keratoconus, diagnosis, treatment, topography, tomography, OCT, collagen crosslinking, and keratoplasty.

Main Results:

• Advanced imaging (topography, tomography, OCT) improves early KCN detection.
• Corneal collagen crosslinking is a key treatment to slow KCN progression.
• Emerging treatments include AI-assisted diagnosis, novel drug therapies, and advanced surgical techniques like Bowman layer transplantation.

Conclusions:

• Enhanced diagnostic tools and screening methods have improved KCN detection rates.
• Ongoing research is crucial for validating new treatments and understanding their long-term efficacy.
• Further studies are needed to assess artificial intelligence's role in KCN management.