ArticlePloS one2023
Non-allergic eye rubbing is a major behavioral risk factor for keratoconus.
Article in PloS one, 2023. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 23 papers.
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The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
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Who cites it
23 citing papers in PubMed, 27 citations in OpenAlex.
- Prevalence and risk factors of keratoconus among school children in Oman: a population-based study.BMC ophthalmology · 2026Article
- Update on the Physiopathology of Keratoconus.Medical sciences (Basel, Switzerland) · 2026Review
- Sex Hormone Imbalance in Keratoconus: Estrogen-Mediated Collagen Remodeling and Biomechanical Weakening.Investigative ophthalmology & visual science · 2026Article
- Characterization of the SKC mouse strain as a potential model for keratoconus.bioRxiv : the preprint server for biology · 2026Article
- "Eye-Conic" Spatial Transcriptomics Reveals the Layer-Specific Molecular Alterations in Corneas of Patients With Keratoconus.Investigative ophthalmology & visual science · 2026Article
- Common and Distinct Features in Serum Proteomic Profiles in Keratoconus, Post-Laser Vision Correction Ectasia, and Pellucid Marginal Degeneration.Investigative ophthalmology & visual science · 2026Article
- Clinical and demographic profile of patients with keratoconus in the Eastern Cape, South Africa.Journal of the colleges of medicine of South Africa · 2026Article
- Comparison of tear film quantity parameters between keratoconus and normal eyes.International journal of ophthalmology · 2026Article
- Transcriptomic profiling reveals neural-immune-stromal dysregulation and risk-associated gene signatures in advanced keratoconus.Scientific reports · 2025Article
- Inter-Eye Molecular Discrepancies in the Corneal Epithelium Point to TFRC in the Keratoconus Severity Signature and Mechanism of Cone Formation.Investigative ophthalmology & visual science · 2025Article
- Assessment of Serum Cytokine Levels in Keratoconus Patients.Journal of clinical medicine · 2025Article
- Keratometry Changes Between Year Seven and Twelve After Corneal Crosslinking in Patients with Keratoconus.Journal of clinical medicine · 2025Article
- Prevalence and demographic profile of keratoconus among high school students in Kenya.International ophthalmology · 2025Article
- Mechanical Strain of Corneal Epithelium Influences the Expression of Genes Implicated in Keratoconus.Investigative ophthalmology & visual science · 2025Article
- Short-term digital ocular massage may weaken corneal biomechanics.Frontiers in bioengineering and biotechnology · 2025Article
- Shared molecular profiles of post-laser vision correction ectasia and keratoconus with key differences inFrontiers in molecular biosciences · 2025Article
- Tear proteomic analysis in keratoconus patients and potential biomarkers: a case-control study.Experimental biology and medicine (Maywood, N.J.) · 2025Observational
- Repeatability and agreement of two ocular biometers with single and dual Scheimpflug cameras in keratoconus eyes.Graefe's archive for clinical and experimental ophthalmology = Albrecht von Graefes Archiv fur klinische und experimentelle Ophthalmologie · 2024Article
- Eye-Rubbing Detection Using a Smartwatch: A Feasibility Study Demonstrated High Accuracy With Machine Learning.Translational vision science & technology · 2024Article
- Keratoconus and inflammatory bowel disease: mendelian randomization.Frontiers in genetics · 2024Article
Corrections and comments
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Authors and funding
6 authors at 3 institutions in 1 country.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
Since the environmental, behavioral, and socioeconomic factors in the etiology of keratoconus (KTCN) remain poorly understood, we characterized them as features influencing KTCN phenotype, and especially affecting the corneal epithelium (CE). In this case-control study, 118 KTCN patients and 73 controls were clinically examined and the Questionnaire covering the aforementioned aspects was completed and then statistically elaborated. Selected KTCN-specific findings were correlated with the outcomes of the RNA-seq assessment of the CE samples. Male sex, eye rubbing, time of using a computer after work, and dust in the working environment, were the substantial KTCN risk factors identified in multivariate analysis, with ORs of 8.66, 7.36, 2.35, and 5.25, respectively. Analyses for genes whose expression in the CE was correlated with the eye rubbing manner showed the enrichment in apoptosis (TP53, BCL2L1), chaperon-related (TLN1, CTDSP2, SRPRA), unfolded protein response (NFYA, TLN1, CTDSP2, SRPRA), cell adhesion (TGFBI, PTPN1, PDPK1), and cellular stress (TFDP1, SRPRA, CAPZB) pathways. Genes whose expression was extrapolated to the allergy status didn't contribute to IgE-related or other inflammatory pathways. Presented findings support the hypothesis of chronic mechanical corneal trauma in KTCN. Eye-rubbing causes CE damage and triggers cellular stress which through its influence on cell apoptosis, migration, and adhesion affects the KTCN phenotype.
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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.