ArticleHeliyon2025
Retinal thickness and vascular density changes in Keratoconus: A systematic review and meta-analysis.
Article in Heliyon, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 2 papers.
What it found
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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.
The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.
Who cites it
2 citing papers in PubMed.
- Influence of Scleral Contact Lenses on Optical Coherence Tomography Parameters in Keratoconus Patients.Diagnostics (Basel, Switzerland) · 2025Article
- Posterior segment alterations in keratoconus patients: an updated comprehensive review.Therapeutic advances in ophthalmologyReview
Corrections and comments
PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.
Authors and funding
7 authors.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
Purpose: This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to assess the changes in retinal layer thickness and vascular density in patients diagnosed with keratoconus (KC). Methods: We conducted a thorough search in PubMed, Scopus, Embase, and Web of Science, encompassing all observational studies from January 1990 to February 2024. We analyzed the data using STATA software 17 and the random effects model with the restricted maximum likelihood (REML) or maximum likelihood (ML) method to pool the standardized mean difference (SMD) and the weighted mean difference (WMD) of retinal thickness and vascular density compared to non-KC eyes. Results: From 4608 records, 16 primary studies met our inclusion criteria, involving 1932 eyes in two groups. The meta-analysis revealed a significant reduction in retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) thickness (SMD: -0.30 [-0.52, -0.08]), perifoveal macular thickness in the nasal region (SMD: -0.32 [-0.55, -0.09]) and superior region (SMD: -0.24 [-0.47, -0.02]), and superior capillary plexus (SCP) density (SMD: -1.52 [-2.27, -0.77]) of KC eyes. Additionally, there was a mildly to moderately significant increase in the optic nerve head (ONH) disk area (SMD: 0.40 [0.06, 0.75]). However, there were no significant changes in foveal macular thickness, parafoveal macular thickness, or deep capillary plexus (DCP) density. Conclusion: In KC patients, significant alterations in retinal structure and vascular density have been observed. Although these changes do not currently influence treatment strategies, they offer valuable insights into the relationship between the retina and the cornea. Understanding these changes may be essential for future research focused on early detection, potential prognosis markers, and further exploration of the retina-corneal connection in KC.
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Registered trials
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