# The Clinical Significance of the Early Screening of Keratoconus and Its Impact on Maintaining Quality of Life

## TL;DR

This study highlights the importance of early keratoconus screening to maintain quality of life through timely treatment.

## Contribution

The study identifies significant early-stage keratoconus indicators and emphasizes the role of early cross-linking treatment.

## Key findings

- Early keratoconus screening shows significant differences in corneal curvature measurements between normal and suspect groups.
- Cross-linking treatment (CXL) is effective in preventing or slowing keratoconus progression when applied early.
- Environmental and risk factors significantly influence disease progression.

## Abstract

Background: This study focuses on the diagnosis and treatment of keratoconus in the early stage and aims to identify the environmental and risk factors that contribute to its progression. Methods: This retrospective investigation was carried out at the University Clinical Center of Kosovo (UCCK) and comprised 131 patients newly diagnosed with keratoconus (KC). All procedures adhered to the Declaration of Helsinki, and the University of Pristina ethics committee approved this study before its initiation (Ref.Nr.104/2023). The confidentiality and anonymity of the surveyed patients were respected. The patients’ data consisted of gender, age, and race. Results: There were significant differences in the K1 distribution between groups, as the normal group (41.4 ± 0.5) was significantly lower than the suspect group (45.0 ± 3.2) and the degree of keratoconus (p < 0.001). There were significant differences in K2 between the groups, as the normal group (44.7 ± 5.1) was significantly lower than the suspect group (47.1 ± 2.8) and the other grades of keratoconus (p < 0.001). There were significant differences between groups regarding Kmax, as the normal group (44.5 ± 3.1) was significantly lower than the suspect group (46.9 ± 1.6) and the other grades of keratoconus (where p < 0.001). Statistically meaningful differences were detected between the groups with respect to subtlety, as the normal group (504.0 ± 27.6) was significantly higher than the suspect group (499.0 ± 48.1) and the other degrees of keratoconus (p < 0.001). Conclusions: Disease progression can significantly affect vision; therefore, early screening enables timely treatment (CXL). The evolution of this technique has contributed to preventing and slowing disease progression.