Prevalence of Keratoconus in a Population-Based Study in Syria

Abdelrahman Salman; Taym Darwish; Marwan Ghabra; Obeda Kailani; Yusra Haddeh; Mohammad Askar; Ammar Ali; Ali Ali; Sara Alhassan

doi:10.1155/2022/6064533

Prevalence of Keratoconus in a Population-Based Study in Syria

J Ophthalmol. 2022 Jun 23:2022:6064533. doi: 10.1155/2022/6064533. eCollection 2022.

Authors

Abdelrahman Salman¹, Taym Darwish¹, Marwan Ghabra², Obeda Kailani³, Yusra Haddeh⁴, Mohammad Askar⁴, Ammar Ali¹, Ali Ali¹, Sara Alhassan⁵

Affiliations

¹ Department of Ophthalmology, Tishreen University, Latakia, Syria.
² Whipps Cross University Hospital, Leytonstone, London, UK.
³ Department of Ophthalmology, King's College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK.
⁴ Department of Ophthalmology, Damascus University, Damascus, Syria.
⁵ Faculty of Health Sciences, American University of Beirut, Beirut, Lebanon.

Abstract

Aim: To determine the prevalence and associations of keratoconus (KC) in a university student population in Syria.

Methods: A prospective multicentre cross-sectional cohort study was conducted at two universities in Syria. Student volunteers were recruited from Tishreen University (Latakia governorate) and Damascus University (Damascus governorate). All participants underwent a comprehensive ocular examination. Placido/Scheimpflug-based corneal imaging using the Sirius (CSO, Florence. Italy), and a questionnaire to evaluate the baseline characteristics and medical history, as well as to highlight possible risk factors of KC. Univariate and bivariate analyses were performed.

Results: The estimated prevalence of KC among all subjects was 1.43% (n = 12). A strong association between eye rubbing and keratoconus was found (OR 9.33, 95% CI 2.94-29.63, P < 0.001). Damascus University participants had a higher prevalence of KC than Tishreen University. However, the difference was not statistically significant.

Conclusion: The prevalence of keratoconus in this Syrian student population was 1.43%. The results of this study demonstrate a high prevalence of keratoconus in the study population. Early detection of keratoconus through screening may yield benefits in preventing devastating sequelae of KC in populations with a high prevalence.