Histopathological characteristics of keratoconus
Year: 2025
Type: article
Study design: Observational Study
Abstract: Purpose: Keratoconus (KC) is a bilateral and asymmetrical corneal ectasia that affects vision. In this study, we performed a histopathological analysis of 150 cases of KC, to document and catalogue the primary morphological features of cornea with KC. Subjects and Methods: The corneas were obtained from penetrating keratoplasties at the MUHC – McGill University Ocular Pathology & Translational Research Laboratory in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. Information was obtained for age and sex at time of surgery. Results: The histopathological characteristics were breaks in Bowman’s layer in 91% ( n = 136), epithelial thinning in 87% ( n = 130), compaction of the stromal fibers in 65% ( n = 97), folds in Descemet’s membrane in 63% ( n = 94), endothelial cell loss in 31% ( n = 47), deep stromal scarring in 30% ( n = 45), epithelial scarring in 29% ( n = 44), superficial iron deposition in 27% ( n = 40), and breaks in Descemet’s membrane in 18% ( n = 27). Conclusion: These results further suggest that changes in the superficial layers, such as the epithelium and Bowman’s layer, precede stromal involvement. These results also confirmed previous data from a published study conducted in 2008.
Institutions: McGill University Health Centre, McGill University
Language: English
Subfield: Ophthalmology
Field: Medicine
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: diamond
OpenAlex ID: W4408065757