25doc087 10.3205/25doc087 urn:nbn:de:0183-25doc0872 Meeting Abstract Bulut Bulut Mübeccel M

Necip Fazil City Hospital, Ophthalmology, Kahramanmaras, Türkei

author Reyhan Reyhan Ali Hakim AH

Harran University, Ophthalmology, Sanliurfa, Türkei

author German Medical Science GMS Publishing House

Düsseldorf

610 keratoconus corneal topography environmental factors 2023 Turkish Earthquake 20250513 engl This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License. Dieser Artikel ist ein Open-Access-Artikel und steht unter den Lizenzbedingungen der Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License (Namensnennung). M0613 087 37. Internationaler Kongress der Deutschen Ophthalmochirurgie (DOC) Hornhaut Nürnberg 20250515 20250517 FP 8.7 TextPurpose: This study evaluated the effects of the devastating Turkish earthquake in 2003 on the prevalence of keratoconus and corneal topographic parameters, with a focus on identifying potential associations between earthquake-induced environmental/psychological stressors and changes in keratoconus presentations.Methods: This retrospective analysis was conducted at a single center by comparing clinical data and corneal topography measured before and after the earthquake. Parameters evaluated included K1, K2, Kmax, corneal thickness, and asymmetry indices (the keratoconus index (KI), index of height of decentration (IHD), central keratoconus index (CKI), and Kmax-K2). Statistical analyses were performed to assess alterations in the prevalence of keratoconus and topographic indices.Results: Although the overall increase in the prevalence of keratoconus, from 14.0% (n=28) pre-earthquake to 21.0% (n=42) post-earthquake, was not statistically significant (p>0.05), significant changes were observed in corneal asymmetry indices. Specifically, the KI increased at a value of p=0.03, the IHD at p=0.02, and the CKI at p=0.01. The difference between Kmax and K2 was also significant (p=0.04).Conclusion: The findings indicate a trend toward a higher prevalence of keratoconus coupled with significant alterations in corneal asymmetry measurements following the Turkish earthquake of 2023. These results support the hypothesis that earthquake-related environmental and psychological factors may affect the progression of keratoconus, underscoring the need for further multicenter, long-term studies to clarify these associations and underlying mechanisms. 0 0 0 0