Persistent Corneal Epithelial Defect (PCED) Insights and Trends

• PCED is a chronic ocular surface disorder characterized by failure of corneal epithelial healing beyond 10–14 days. It reflects the impaired regenerative capacity of the cornea and is commonly associated with underlying ocular or systemic conditions affecting epithelial integrity.
• PCED is associated with a lack of reliable biomarkers and objective tools to effectively monitor epithelial healing. This limitation hinders accurate prediction of disease progression, complicates standardized assessment, and creates challenges in ensuring consistent evaluation and monitoring across diverse patient populations and clinical settings. 
• If unresolved, PCED may progress to corneal ulceration, stromal thinning, scarring, and potential perforation, leading to vision impairment. Chronic epithelial defects also increase susceptibility to secondary infections, highlighting the importance of early identification and understanding of underlying pathological mechanisms.
• The actual incidence of PCED is not known. However, studies have estimated the total incidence of PCED, based on the occurrence of underlying conditions per year, to be less than 200,000 cases in the US, identifying it as an orphan disease.

Persistent Corneal Epithelial Defect (PCED) Epidemiology Forecast in the 7MM

• 2025 Incidence Cases of PCED: ~XXXX
• 2036 Projected Incidence Cases of PCED:  XXXX
• PCED Growth Rate (2026–2036): XX% 

DelveInsight's ‘Persistent Corneal Epithelial Defect (PCED) Epidemiology Forecast – 2036’ report delivers an in-depth understanding of the PCED, historical and forecasted epidemiology in the United States, EU4 (Germany, Spain, Italy, and France), and the United Kingdom, and Japan.

Persistent Corneal Epithelial Defect (PCED) Understanding

Persistent Corneal Epithelial Defect (PCED) Overview

PCED is a challenging ocular surface disorder characterized by the failure of the corneal epithelium to heal within the expected timeframe, typically despite conventional treatment. PCED can arise secondary to a variety of conditions, including neurotrophic keratopathy, dry eye disease, corneal infections, chemical injuries, systemic diseases such as diabetes, and post-surgical complications. If left untreated, PCED may lead to corneal ulceration, stromal melting, scarring, vision loss, and, in severe cases, corneal perforation.

Diagnosis is primarily based on clinical examination, with persistent epithelial defects identified through slit-lamp biomicroscopy and fluorescein staining, which highlights areas of non-healing epithelium. Additional assessments, including corneal sensitivity testing, ocular surface evaluation, and advanced imaging techniques, may help determine the underlying cause and severity of the condition. Early diagnosis and timely intervention are critical to prevent disease progression and preserve visual function, particularly in patients with neurotrophic or other high-risk ocular surface disorders.

Further details are provided in the report.

Persistent Corneal Epithelial Defect (PCED) Epidemiology

Key Findings from Persistent Corneal Epithelial Defect (PCED) Epidemiological Analysis and Forecast 

• In the United States, PCED is reported annually in approximately 7,558 patients undergoing corneal transplantation and in 2,480 to 5,257 patients undergoing diabetic vitrectomy. The risk of developing PCED is further increased by diabetic keratopathy, a complication affecting an estimated 47%–64% of individuals with diabetes.
• As per DelveInsight analysis, the total incident cases of PCED in the 7MM were estimated to be more than 250,000 cases in 2025 and are projected to increase further over the forecast period from 2026 to 2036.
• According to estimates based on DelveInsight’s analysis, the United States accounted for approximately 45% of the total incident cases of Persistent Epithelial Defect in the 7MM in 2025, and this proportion is expected to increase further by 2036.
• According to DelveInsight's estimates, males constitute more than 60% of total PCED cases across the 7MM, indicating a clear male predominance.
• According to DelveInsight’s estimates, Germany accounted for the highest number of incident cases within the EU4 and the UK, followed by France, reflecting a comparatively greater disease burden in these countries. 

Scope of the Report

• The report covers a segment of an executive summary, a descriptive overview of PCED, explaining its causes, signs and symptoms, and pathogenesis.
• Comprehensive insight has been provided into the epidemiology segments and forecasts, the future growth potential of the diagnosis rate, and disease progression.

Report Insights

PCED Patient Population Forecast

Report Key Strengths

• Epidemiology‑based (epi‑based) Bottom‑up Forecasting
• 11-year Forecast 
• Patient Burden Trends (by geography)

FAQs

• What are the disease risks, burdens, and unmet needs of PCED? What will be the growth opportunities across the 7MM concerning the patient population with PCED?
• What is the historical and forecasted PCED  patient pool in the US, EU4 (Germany, France, Italy, and Spain), and the UK, and Japan?

Reasons to Buy

• Insights on patient burden/disease prevalence, evolution in diagnosis, and factors contributing to the change in the epidemiology of the disease during the forecast years.
• To understand key opinion leaders’ perspectives on the diagnostic challenges to overcome barriers in the future.
• Detailed insights into various factors hampering disease diagnosis and other existing diagnostic challenges.