National Keratoconus Screening Advocacy

New Zealand has one of the highest documented rates of keratoconus internationally, particularly within Māori and Pacific communities.

Research from New Zealand has demonstrated significantly elevated prevalence rates in adolescents, supporting the need for earlier detection strategies.

Rose Optometry and NZERC advocate for improved keratoconus screening because:

• Keratoconus commonly begins during adolescence
• Progression is fastest in teenage years
• Progression is fastest in teenage years
• Corneal cross-linking is most effective before advanced progression occurs

Modern corneal tomography systems now allow detection of subtle ectatic changes before severe vision loss develops.

The goals of future screening programmes include:

• Reducing preventable visual impairment
• Decreasing corneal transplantation
• Improving equity of care
• Identifying disease earlier
• Improving long-term visual outcomes