Keratoconus Market

DelveInsight’s ‘Keratoconus (KC) - Market Insights, Epidemiology and Market Forecast– 2030’ report delivers an in-depth understanding of the Keratoconus (KC), historical and forecasted epidemiology as well as the Keratoconus (KC) market trends in the United States, EU5 (Germany, Spain, Italy, France, and United Kingdom) and Japan.

The Keratoconus (KC) market report provides current treatment practices, emerging drugs, and market share of the individual therapies, current and forecasted 7MM Keratoconus (KC) market size from 2017 to 2030. The report also covers current Keratoconus (KC) treatment practice/algorithm, market drivers, market barriers and unmet medical needs to curate the best of the opportunities and assesses the underlying potential of the market.

Geography Covered

The United States
EU5 (Germany, France, Italy, Spain, and the United Kingdom)
Japan

Study Period: 2017–2030

Keratoconus (KC) Disease Understanding and Treatment Algorithm

Keratoconus (KC) Overview

Keratoconus (KC) also known as the conical cornea, is an eye (ocular) disorder characterized by progressive thinning and changes in the shape of the cornea. The cornea is the thin, clear outer layer of the eye and is normally dome-shaped. Slowly progressive thinning of the cornea causes a cone-shaped bulge to develop towards the center of the cornea in the areas of greatest thinning. Affected individuals develop a blurry or distorted vision, sensitivity to light (photophobia), and additional vision problems. KC has different types based on the shape and location of the thinned cornea. These types include nipple, oval, keratoglobus, and D-shaped KC.

Generally, KC is first diagnosed in young people at puberty or in their late teens. The exact cause of KC is unknown. There are many theories based on research and its association with other conditions such as allergies and genetic causes; however, no one theory explains it all, and it may be caused by a combination of things.

In its earliest stages, KC is known to cause slight blurring and distortion of vision and increased sensitivity to glare and light; these symptoms usually appear in the late teens or early 20s. It may progress for 10–20 years and then slow in its progression. Each eye may be affected differently.

The specific underlying mechanism(s) responsible for KC are not fully understood. Most cases appear to occur randomly for unknown reasons (sporadically). However, a positive family history of KC has been established in some cases. Most researchers believe that multiple, complex factors are required for the development of KC, including both genetic and environmental factors.

Keratoconus (KC) Diagnosis

KC should be suspected in any patient with significant irregular astigmatism, especially if unstable and increasing over time. In the early stages of the disease, there is altered metabolic activity that may lead to biomechanical instability and stretching of the corneal tissues. As the disease progresses, there is accompanying tissue loss. In addition, there is a loss of correlation between the anterior and posterior corneal curvature. Progressive corneal thinning and distortion causes a conical or cone-shaped protrusion, which may be visible at the slit lamp in advanced cases. In early disease, the condition may go undiagnosed unless assessments of the posterior and anterior corneal surfaces are undertaken using corneal tomography.

KC may be diagnosed based upon a complete patient and family history and thorough eye examination. Such an examination may include evaluation of the external appearance of the eyes, visual acuity, eye movements, and visual fields; the use of a special, illuminated microscope that allows physicians to view the eye through high magnification (slit-lamp examination); and/or additional tests or procedures.

Various diagnostic techniques and procedures used for KC include:

Eye Refraction
Slit-lamp examination
Keratometry
Corneal Topography
Corneal Tomography
Keratoconus indices
The Belin Ambrosio Enhanced Ectasia Display (BAD)
Holladay 6 map display
Corneal pachymetry
Automated detection program for subclinical KC
Corneal biomechanics

Keratoconus (KC) Treatment

The initial treatment for keratoconus often consists of hard contact lenses. A variety of keratorefractive procedures have also been attempted, broadly divided into subtractive and additive techniques. Subtractive techniques include photorefractive keratectomy or laser in situ keratomileusis, although generally, the results of these techniques have been poor. Implantation of intrastromal corneal ring segments is an additive technique in which the implants are intended to reinforce the cornea, prevent further deterioration, and potentially obviate the need for penetrating keratoplasty. Penetrating keratoplasty (i.e., corneal grafting) is the last line of treatment.

About 20% of patients with keratoconus will require corneal transplantation. All of these treatments attempt to improve refractive errors but are not disease-modifying.

However, keratoconus management has significantly changed over the last two decades. The advent of new interventions such as cornea cross-linking, intrastromal corneal ring segments and combined treatments provide corneal clinicians a variety of treatment options for the visual rehabilitation of keratoconus patients.

Corneal collagen cross-linking (CXL) has the potential to slow the progression of the disease. During CXL, in order to achieve a strengthening effect of corneal tissue and arrest keratoconus progression, the use of riboflavin (vitamin B2) is combined with ultraviolet A (UV-A) irradiation. Riboflavin plays the role of a photosensitizer in the photopolymerization process and when combined with UV-A irradiation increases the formation of intrafibrillar and interfibrillar carbonyl-based collagen covalent bonds through a molecular process that has still not been completely elucidated.

Keratoconus (KC) Epidemiology

The disease epidemiology covered in the report provides historical as well as forecasted epidemiology segmented by Total Diagnosed Prevalent Population of Keratoconus (KC), Severity-specific Distribution of Keratoconus (KC) and Age-specific Distribution of Keratoconus (KC) in the 7MM market covering the United States, EU5 countries (Germany, France, Italy, Spain, and United Kingdom) and Japan from 2017 to 2030.

Key Findings

This section provides glimpse of the Keratoconus (KC) epidemiology in the 7MM.

The total diagnosed prevalent population of KC in the seven major markets was estimated to be 1,602,427 in 2017.
The diagnosed prevalent cases of KC, in the United States, were found to be 550,047 in 2017.
In 2017, the mild, moderate and severe type of KC, in the United States, were found to be 121,010, 313,527, and 115,510, respectively.
It was found that in the United States, the maximum number of cases of KC was found in the age group of 30–39 with 181,515 cases in 2017, while the lowest number of cases were found in the age group ≥60 with 16,501 cases in 2017.
In the EU5 countries, the diagnosed prevalence of KC was found to be maximum in Germany, with 218,772 cases, followed by Italy with 171,676 cases in 2017. The least number of cases were found in Spain, with 105,463 cases in 2017.
In Japan, the diagnosed prevalence of KC was anticipated to be 240,591 in 2017.

Country Wise- Keratoconus (KC) Epidemiology

The epidemiology segment also provides the Keratoconus (KC) epidemiology data and findings across the United States, EU5 (Germany, France, Italy, Spain, and the United Kingdom) and Japan.

Keratoconus (KC) Drug Chapters

The drug chapter segment of the Keratoconus (KC) report encloses the detailed analysis of Keratoconus (KC) marketed drugs and mid and late stage pipeline drugs. It also helps to understand the Keratoconus (KC) clinical trial details, expressive pharmacological action, agreements and collaborations, approval and patent details of each included drug and the latest news and press releases.

Keratoconus (KC) Marketed Drugs

Photrexa Viscous and Photrexa: Glaukos/ Avedro

Photrexa Viscous (riboflavin 5’-phosphate in 20% dextran ophthalmic solution) and Photrexa (riboflavin 5’-phosphate ophthalmic solution) are photoenhancers indicated for use with the KXL System in corneal collagen cross-linking. The KXL System is an electronic medical device that delivers ultraviolet light (365 nm wavelength) in a circular pattern onto the cornea after riboflavin phosphates ophthalmic solution (Photrexa Viscous and/or Photrexa) has been applied. They are the first and only FDA approved therapeutic treatment of progressive keratoconus (KC) and corneal ectasia following refractive surgery.