Black Subjects Twice as Likely to be Diagnosed with Keratoconus as Caucasians

This study suggests a need for increased clinical vigilance and screening among Black populations as well as further research into genetic and environmental risk factors contributing to this disparity. Photo: Julie Song, OD. Click image to enlarge. Keratoconus prevalence is known to vary by geography and ethnicity, with strong associations to those living in the Middle East region; other specific epidemiologies have been less thoroughly investigated. A recent study presented at ARVO 2026 in Denver demonstrated a significant racial disparity in keratoconus prevalence in a Mississippi population, with Black patients exhibiting a more than twofold increased risk.A retrospective cohort study was conducted using de-identified data from the University of Mississippi Medical Center Research Data Warehouse. Encounters from 2013 through 2025 were assessed for relevant ICD-10 codes. Period prevalence of keratoconus was calculated and stratified by race and sex.Among 1,483,469 patients (62,001,798 encounters), the racial distribution was 42.0% Black and 41.61% Caucasian. A total of 1,567 patients were diagnosed with keratoconus. Compared with the general population, the keratoconus cohort had a larger proportion of Black patients (66.9%) and a smaller proportion of white patients (27.4%).Keratoconus prevalence was calculated to be 0.17% in Black patients vs 0.07% in white patients. Women represented 59.0% of keratoconus cases compared with 54.7% of the general population, indicating a small but significant sex-based difference.The implication of this finding is vital for public health and health equity, the authors wrote in their abstract, suggesting that current screening protocols may need to be adjusted to ensure early detection in minority populations.“By understanding that Black patients in this region face a disproportionately higher risk, eye care providers can be more vigilant in monitoring for early signs of the disease,” they wrote in their abstract. “Early diagnosis allows for treatments that can stop the progression of the condition, ultimately saving sight and improving quality of life.”Original abstract ©2026 Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology.Click here for the source. Attar R. Racial disparities in keratoconus prevalence: a population-based retrospective cohort study at a tertiary care center in Mississippi. ARVO 2026 annual meeting. This article was developed by the editorial staff in conjunction with experts in the field. In the process, AI may have been among the editorial tools used to meet the goals of human editors, who approved all content.