Keratoconus is not a well-known disease. However, although it is not widely known among the public, we know that there are a very serious number of keratoconus patients worldwide. Naturally, there are many questions about this disease that arouse curiosity in minds. One of these questions is “Does keratoconus occur in children?” question. In this content, we will talk about keratoconus disease in children progressing through scientific researches.
Can Keratoconus Occur in Children?
There is a good scientific research published through the National Library of Medicine that allows us to learn details about the subject.
In the study in question, more than 100 children between the ages of 8 and 12 were examined. Children with an average age of 10.7 years are keratoconus patients. Actually, we can answer our question directly in this section. Yes, this disease can also be seen in children.
The most interesting part of the research is the course of the disease. According to the study, keratoconus was observed as a very fast progressing disease in children until adolescence.
While keratoconus is detected in both eyes in the majority of patients, the importance of early diagnosis was also emphasised due to the high rate of progression. It was also emphasised that if the disease is diagnosed early, it is possible to strengthen the cornea with new generation treatments such as crosslinking and to prevent vision problems that children may experience in advanced stages.
It should be noted that according to the research, the disease is more intense in boys. These are the data obtained from the research results. When we look at the data, we can say that yes, keratoconus disease can be seen in children. However, as emphasised in the study, the important thing here is early diagnosis and appropriate treatment.
Source
- https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36190036/
