How Common Is Keratoconus? A Global Review Estimates About 290 per 100,000 People, Highest in Their 20s

Keratoconus is a condition in which the cornea, the clear front window of the eye, gradually thins and bulges into a cone shape, distorting vision. It used to be described as rare. A systematic review and meta-analysis published in the journal Cornea pooled studies from around the world to estimate how common it really is.

What the review included

The researchers searched three major medical databases up to January 2024 for studies of keratoconus in all ages, sexes, and regions. They included 55 studies, 53 of them in the combined analysis.

Key findings

• Prevalence: about 289 per 100,000 people overall (roughly 1 in 350), though the range of estimates was wide.
• New cases: about 4 per 100,000 people per year.
• Age: the 20 to 29 age group had the highest prevalence (about 526 per 100,000) and the highest rate of new diagnoses.
• Sex: men had slightly higher odds than women.
• Region: estimates were highest in studies from Africa and in West and South Asia, and lowest in East Asia.
• Over time: reported prevalence and incidence increased, with the highest prevalence in studies after 2020.

The authors estimate that more than 23.7 million people worldwide have keratoconus. Some of the increase over time likely reflects better detection with modern corneal mapping, and the wide confidence ranges mean the numbers are estimates, not exact counts.

What this means for families

• Keratoconus often starts in the teens and twenties. Blur that keeps changing, frequent prescription changes, astigmatism that increases, or ghosting of images are reasons to ask for corneal topography.
• Close relatives of someone with keratoconus may benefit from a screening scan.
• Eye rubbing is a well-known risk factor; treating itchy allergies helps.
• Early diagnosis matters because management options, from glasses and specialty contact lenses to corneal procedures, depend on the stage.

For more eye-health reading, see moorparklasik.com.

Source: Global Incidence and Prevalence of Keratoconus: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis (Cornea (PubMed), 09/2026). This article is an educational summary written by Khanna Vision Institute and is not a substitute for medical advice.