Purpose: This review discusses the main aspects of pediatric keratoconus (KC) based on the current evidence to propose a guideline for helping early diagnosis and improving efficacy in treatment.
Methods: This literature review was performed using PubMed, Ovid, and Elsevier databases. For the database search, the primary entered term included "pediatric keratoconus," connected to descriptors such as "keratoconus," "screening," "corneal cross-linking" (CXL), and "keratoplasty." Peer-reviewed and scholarly resources including original scientific articles and review articles were included.
Results: The prevalence of KC changes among populations. The greatest incidence has been reported in Middle-Eastern populations, an estimate of incidence of 1/2,000 individuals per year. Scheimpflug imaging, optical coherence tomography, and slit-scan tomography are commonly used to detect early diagnosis. Epithelium-off CXL is the treatment that should be discussed as soon as there is evidence for disease progression. Actually, penetrating keratoplasty represents the more common technique of pediatric keratoplasty; however, deep anterior lamellar keratoplasty probably seems as the best surgical option because of healthy endothelium. Options to increase visual acuity thereafter include contact lens fitting and corneal implants.
Conclusions: The review of the literature confirms that KC in children is more aggressive than that in adults. In the attempt to preserve a good visual acuity, guidelines for improving early diagnosis and appropriate treatment seem crucial.